Learn how to help in case of a disaster

The village of North Aurora will offer a basic emergency response class for citizens, which is jointly taught by members of the North Aurora police and fire departments. Many families are not prepared for a disaster but they hope to change that with the Community Emergency Response Team course.

CERT is part of a larger, nationally-established citizen volunteer program called Citizen Corps. It is intended to teach citizens how to better cope with the aftermath of a disaster by training them in basic disaster response skills.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, citizens are then better able to assist their families or others in their neighborhood when professional responders are not immediately available.

The course begins with an overview of disaster preparation, includes both classroom and hands on practical exercises, and culminates in a simulation where students respond to a disaster with role players as victims.

The topics of the course are:

• Disaster Preparedness

• Disaster Fire Suppression

• Disaster Medical Operations (2 parts)

• Light Search and Rescue Operations

• Disaster Psychology and Team Organization

• Course Review and Disaster Simulation

The next class begins from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, and continues Tuesdays through Oct. 20. Participants must be 18 or older, or 16 or older with parent permission. Preference for admission into the course will be given to citizens who live or work in the village.

After the conclusion of the course, attendees who successfully complete the course may apply to volunteer in the CERT program. CERT volunteers assist first responders during disasters, other emergencies or planned events such as North Aurora Days or the Community Parade.

Volunteers may be asked to help with directing traffic, perimeter/access control, triage/first aid, light search and rescue, shelter set up and operation and more.

Applications can be picked up from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays at the North Aurora Police Department, 25 E. State. Applications also are available at www.vil.north-aurora.il.us/forms.aspx.

For details about the program, contact Deputy Chief Scott Buziecki at (630) 897-8705, ext. 752, or sbuziecki@vil.north-aurora.il.us.