WEST Chicago Citizen Corps recruiting for community emergency response course
Emergency preparedness is top of mind in West Chicago especially in light of the recent severe weather-related tragedies throughout the Midwest and Southern States. The City of West Chicago would like residents to know that the West Chicago Citizen Corps is offering another Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course.
The West Chicago Citizen Corps has worked hard to educate the public on important actions to take in the event of a natural or manmade disaster through a seven-week training course. The Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course will meet every Wednesday evening, starting April 25, 2012 from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. There is no fee for the course. Participants must be at least 18 years old or older, and either live or work in the City of West Chicago or the West Chicago Fire Protection District.
CERT training is designed to provide basic training in disaster preparedness, which increases the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance arrives. Courses include; Weather Safety, Fire and Life Safety, Medical, Light Search and Rescue, CERT Organization, Psychology, and Terrorism.
Fire Chief Robert Hodge said, “Everyone that attends the course learns valuable lessons that may change their life. Learning how to bandage an injury, use a fire extinguisher, or lift a heavy object that has trapped someone, may be very useful when an emergency hits your neighborhood.”
According to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, “No matter how much the federal government, the state, or local officials do to prepare, we can't do it alone – individuals and families must do their part to be ready in case of an emergency. The public is the most important member of the nation's emergency management team.”
The course will be conducted at the Fire Protection District Headquarters, located at 200 Fremont Street. To enroll, residents should call Sergeant Chris Woodill at (630) 293-2222 or email at cwoodill@westchicago.org.
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