Community response team course to begin

Several catastrophic events in recent years have shown the value in having a community prepared and people trained on what they can do to help others during a large-scale catastrophic incident.

Starting Sept. 26, the Arlington Heights Fire Department is offering the Community Emergency Response Team training program, offered at the Fire Department Headquarters and Station 2, 1150 N. Arlington Heights Road.

The CERT program is a 20-hour course, which will be held from 7-10 p.m. on Wednesdays, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 27. Training of CERT volunteers will cost $20. The classes are taught by certified instructors in the village's fire department that prepares participants to help themselves, their family and neighbors in the event of a catastrophic incident.

This program is not restricted to Arlington Heights residents, as the village recognizes the benefit of making CERT training available for the region. The program is offered through the Arlington Heights Emergency Management Services, in conjunction with the Arlington Heights Fire Department and the Arlington Heights Citizen Corps Council. The program, which started in 1994, is funded by a grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community's professional response, CERT members can assist others in their community by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives. CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies.

To enroll, call the fire department at (847) 368-5450 or download the CERT Application from www.vah.com and click on "Applications & Forms" at the bottom of the page.

During the comprehensive training, each participant will learn to:

Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.

Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.

Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish small fires.

Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating shock.

Conduct triage under simulated conditions.

Perform head to toe assessments.

Select and set up a treatment area.

Employ basic treatments for various wounds.

Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.

The most common techniques for searching a structure.

Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.

Methods to protect rescuers during search and rescue.

This program will give participants the information and knowledge needed to protect themselves from becoming a victim. The hands-on training gives participants the confidence to succeed in helping themselves, their family and neighborhood in a major disaster. For more information, contact the Arlington Heights Fire Department at (847) 368-5450.