NewMilfordCERT -

CERT New Member Training Coming This Spring!

January 20, 2020 by Wendy

We are excited to say that we have scheduled our Spring CERT new member training. Training classes will run from March 17 – April 2. We will be holding classes in our CERT headquarters at the John Pettibone Community Center.

You can give back to your community by joining CERT.

The weeknight evening classes start at 18:30 (6:30), Saturday class 08:30.

All new trainees will be asked to compete Online Course IS-317 before training begins. You make take the course as early as you like, to get an overview of what CERT is about.

“Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams,” IS-317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members. It takes between six and eight hours to complete the course. Those who successfully finish it will receive a certificate of completion. It has six modules with topics that include:

Introduction to CERT
Fire Safety
Hazardous Material and Terrorist Incidents
Disaster Medical Operations
Search
Rescue

IS-317 can be taken by anyone interested in CERT. However, to become a CERT volunteer, one must complete the classroom training offered by a local government agency such as the emergency management agency, fire or police department. or CERT Team. Let us know if you are interested in taking CERT training.
Click here to take the course.

New Milford CERT offers many ways to be involved and receive additional training and drills. Our monthly meetings usually involve some type of training or skill refreshing. While not required, we recommend that active members attend at least 8 monthly meetings or non-emergency/ emergency activations, and 2 CERT training or drills each year. Some of these activations can be in a shelter activation,, our booth at Village Fair days, our roles at Trick or Trunk or other various activities, and assisting Fire Departments with our Firefirhgter Rehab Van. We also participate in Emergency Services Drills when asked and run our own CERT practice drills. There are plenty of ways to participate.

We hope that you will join us in learning more about being prepared and how to help your community.

Please email info @ newmilfordcert.com to register or ask questions, or reach out to us on Facebook!

How Did CERT Get Started?

January 15, 2020 by Wendy

HOW DID THE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM PROGRAM GET STARTED?

The idea for the CERT program originally started with the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. At this time a group of Los Angeles Fire Fighters had the privilege of visiting Japan to learn about how the local communities in that country respond to fires and natural disasters. During their visit, there was a significant earthquake that affected the region causing death and destruction. These visiting firefighters were able to witness first aid how community members in Japan effectively organized together and helped local officials with disaster response.

The Los Angeles Fire Fighters returned from Japan inspired by what they saw and shortly thereafter began implementing a new program designed to train local citizens in fire suppression and disaster response. It wasn’t long before the program would be put to its first real test. In 1987 on October 1^st the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California experienced a magnitude 5.9 earthquake. This earthquake, while modest in size, was still able to cause significant property damage totaling close to $250 million dollars. Not only that, but the earthquake resulted in close to 200 injuries and 3 deaths.

Photo Courtesy via Whittier Daily News

The initial group of trainees that the LAFD had instructed proved invaluable to clean up and recovery efforts during this event. The program the Los Angeles Fire Fighters had copied and created here at home in the United States had demonstrated itself to be a success! It was from this initial pilot program that the concept for CERT would later be expanded upon.

The first official federally funded CERT program began in 1993. Nowadays there are CERT programs in all 50 states of the United States of America as well as all tribal communities and U.S Territories like Puerto Rico & the Virgin Islands. The CERT program has helped prepare America’s neighborhoods and communities for disaster and since its inception has been able to train close to 600,000 people in fire suppression, first aid, and disaster preparedness! Not only that but the CERT program has even grown to include training in both English and Spanish, allowing more Americas access to this important life-saving knowledge!

Learn more about the history of the CERT program by visiting the Los Angeles Fire Department page here https://www.lafd.org/join/volunteer/cert

Thanks to HoodieGoodies.com for the info!

New Member Training Coming in September

February 22, 2018 by Wendy

We are excited to say that we have a schedule for our Fall new member training session. We will be holding classes starting on September 25th at the John Pettibone Community Center.

Tuesday September 25^th – Introduction and Disaster Preparedness
Thursday September 27^th – Search and Rescue
Tuesday October 2^nd Fire Safety
Thursday October 4^th – Shelter Operation
Saturday, October 6th Med Ops 1 & 2
Tuesday, October 9th – Terrorism and Disaster Psychology
Thursday October 11th – CERT Organization, Final and Graduation.

The weeknight evening classes start at 18:30 (6:30), Saturday class 08:30.

All new trainees will be asked to compete Online Course IS-317 before training begins. You make take the course as early as you like, to get an overview of what CERT is about.

Introduction to CERT
Fire Safety
Hazardous Material and Terrorist Incidents
Disaster Medical Operations
Search
Rescue

IS-317 can be taken by anyone interested in CERT. However, to become a CERT volunteer, one must complete the classroom training offered by a local government agency such as the emergency management agency, fire or police department. Contact your local emergency manager to learn about the local education and training opportunities available to you. Let this person know about your interest in taking CERT training.
Click here to take the course.

Please email info @ newmilfordcert.com to register or ask questions, or reach out to us on Facebook!

What Is CERT?

January 16, 2018 by Wendy

What is CERT? CERT is a critical program in the effort to engage everyone in America in making their communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient when incidents occur. CERT is a great way to give back to the community. Here in New Milford, our primary CERT function is to open and operate shelters in the event that one is needed, as well as supporting emergency services when asked. CERT members are trained in many areas, including sheltering, first aid, triage, emergency, search and rescue, terrorism, among other things. We meet once a month and at these meetings undergo additional training, or have refresher courses. so that we are always prepared. Please follow us on social media to stay up to date as to what is happening with New Milford CERT.

Community-based preparedness planning allows us all to prepare for and respond to anticipated disruptions and potential hazards following a disaster. As individuals, we can prepare our homes and families to cope during that critical period. Through pre-event planning, neighborhoods and worksites can also work together to help reduce injuries, loss of lives, and property damage. Neighborhood preparedness will enhance the ability
of individuals and neighborhoods to reduce their emergency needs and to manage their existing resources until professional assistance becomes available.

Studies of behavior following disasters have shown that groups working together in the disaster period perform more effectively if there has been prior planning and training for disaster response. These studies also show that organized grassroots efforts may be more successful if they are woven into the social and political fabric of the community— neighborhood associations, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and other existing
organizations.

Effective response therefore requires comprehensive planning and coordination of all who will be involved—government, volunteer groups, private businesses, schools, and community organizations. With training and information, individuals and community groups can be prepared to serve as a crucial resource capable of performing many of the emergency functions needed in the immediate post-disaster period. The CERT Program is designed to train individuals to be assets to help communities prepare for effective disaster response.