Palm Springs, Cathedral City Fire to Offer CERT Training
In an effort to prepare community members with the necessary skills required to effectively respond to emergency situations, the Palm Springs and Cathedral City fire departments will offer FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training beginning in October.
The federally certified course will be held Thursday, Oct. 1 from 6 to 10 p.m. and on two Saturdays -- Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Palm Springs City Yard, 425 N. Civic Drive. Academy instructors are FEMA certified and will include firefighters from Palm Springs and Cathedral City.
The class fee is $40 and Palm Springs and Cathedral City residents will get first priority in the program – which includes 20 hours of class and hands on training, according to Palm Springs Fire Chief Blake Goetz. The chief also noted that the program is a precursor to the California Shakeout exercise planned for 10:15 a.m. on Oct. 15.
CERT training is a realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens learn to secure their utilities and put out small fires, provide basic medical aid, as well as search for and rescue victims safely.
“During major incidents like an earthquake, the community must work together and everyone must do his part. 90 percent of earthquake victims are saved by other victims,” Goetz said. “CERT-trained volunteers augment the community’s front-line first responders in times of crisis. CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.”
To download an application, visit www.palmsprings.ca.gov and click on Government and then Departments and then Fire. Applications can be faxed to (760) 778-8430 or mailed to the Palm Springs Fire Department, 300 N. El Cielo Road 92262. Please make your check payable to the City of Palm Springs.