Emergency training classes offered

SOUTH COATESVILLE » A free class is being offered at the training center for members of the public who want to learn how to be prepared in the event of an emergency, and also help their neighbors.

The federal Emergency Management Institute-approved Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Basic Training is designed to prepare people to help themselves and help others in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Officials said in such an event, emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately; you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property.

Sponsored by the Chester County Department of Emergency Services, the CERT class will be held at the Chester County Training Center in South Coatesville. Students must be 16 or older

to attend. Students who are between 16-18 years old need a parent or guardian to accompany them. The 32-hour course runs weekly from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, from Sept.10 through Oct. 29 and a practical day on Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the village on-site.

“It’s been really interesting to see the magnitude of people who attend the class over the years,” said Janet Zeis, Community Resilience Coordinator at Department of Emergency Services.

She said that some attendees are former firstresponders or grew up as Boy Scouts while others have not been involved in such an organization that involves preparedness. Some have seen the devastation of how flooding or fires affected their neighbors and now they want to help when they can.

“If people are prepared to help their family, we consider that a win,” Zeis said as a result of the class.

She added that some

people who attend the class share that knowledge in their workplace or at their churches.

“We consider them ambassadors,” Zeis said. “Anything people want to do with this knowledge, we welcome.”

Joe Sciandra, a CERT instructor, noted that the nationwide program began in LA County after officials analyzed information following an earthquake in New Mexico when ordinary people helped save 700 people, but a 100 of those “untrained spontaneous responders” lost their lives. Sciandra explained that people generally help others during an emergency. LA County officials realized people may try to help loved ones and strangers, and they could possibly get hurt or killed in the process. The program began with the mindset to help people learn how to help others without themselves becoming a victim and to act without risking their own safety.

“It starts with the concept of you have to take care of yourself first,” Sciandra said.

Sciandra said the citizens

program is designed specifically for people who want a greater understanding of how to help in aftermath of disaster that affects their community, typically when the normal assets, such as first-responders are overwhelmed. He said this program will “help people help themselves and then help others when resources are not available.”

He explained that society believes that when something bad happens that someone is going to come and rescue them. This program teaches people the concept of aiding themselves until help arrives. The first topic discusses being prepared in the different environments people spend their time, including work, home, school, etc.

“You can’t help somebody else until you’re prepared yourself,” Sciandra said.

One of the hands-on practical skills taught in the program is how to use a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire before it becomes a larger fire. Sciandra noted that it is the first time that many participates will use a fire extinguisher.

“We’re not teaching them

how to put out a kitchen fire or a room that is fully engulfed,” Sciandra said. “We’re doing a scene size up to make a critical decision that could save lives. Some decisions mean getting out of the building and calling 9-1-1.”

Sciandra described the skills day as fun with some challenges.

“We try to challenge them with things that they may encounter, not to trip them up, but because these are things that they may experience,” Sciandra said. “We want them to learn this in a training situation and not in real life.”

He added that people may learn skills that they can apply in various situations. He said they may feel “empowered to be a positive asset to the community.”

“Your neighbors may need your help one day or it’s possible that you may be the one who needs help,” Sciandra said. “The more people who are prepared and have those basic skills, the better off everyone is.”

To register for the class, visit: http://destraining. chesco.org/ema/CERTFall2018.