MANALAPAN – Following major emergencies, first responders who provide fire, medical and community safety services will have to establish priorities for the use of their response resources.
Individual preparedness, as well as the ability to safely and effectively assist others, allows members of a community to care for themselves until more help arrives, according to a press release from the Manalapan Health Department.
The federal government began promoting the nationwide use of organized Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in 1992 as two means to connect the professional response community with the people they serve.
The CERT program educates individuals about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical (emergency first aid) operations, according to the press release.
Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, persons trained in CERT can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
The Manalapan MRC-CERT will offer its annual 20-hour CERT training program starting at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at town hall. Training will continue once per week until the beginning of April.
Enrollment and materials are free and training is open to individuals 16 years of age and older. Youths age 16 and 17 may participate with a signed permission slip and waiver from their parents, according to the press release.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be invited to join the Manalapan MRC-CERT team, although doing so is not a requirement.
Individuals interested in the training should contact the Manalapan Health Department at 732-446-8345 or [email protected] by Jan. 9.
The Manalapan MRC-CERT team currently consists of more than 300 volunteer members. A medical background is not required to participate, according to the press release.