CERT Program Is Needed In Garden City

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  October 13, 2016.  Mike Weaver is in charge of CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) in Rich County, Cache County and Box Elder County.  Last year he had money set aside to begin to train a group of people in Rich County in basic emergency training.  Garden City agreed to set up a meeting time and encourage people to come for the training.  However, Garden City didn’t follow up so nothing took place.  Weaver would like to try again this year to give some individuals basic emergency training.

Emergency services in the County involves law enforcement, firemen, and EMTs.  In a larger emergency they are overwhelmed.  Additional help is needed.  Weaver would like to get other individuals trained to be able to step in and help if and when an emergency occurs. 

He reported that they had a very successful training in Brigham City. They got a stake relief society group involved.  They were able to get women from several wards together and gave them training in very basic items.  Apparently most of the women had never used a fire extinguisher.  They were given an opportunity to do that.  They were taught how to take care of different kinds of wounds, etc.  It went very well.  In fact, they enjoyed it so much that they have held several additional training sessions. 

Mike noted that he felt the women here would also enjoy the training if someone would be willing to set up a meeting and follow through.  They have a trainer, they will provide all the supplies and items needed, they are willing and would like to come and give people very helpful information that can be used often in the home even if a disaster never occurs.  The Mayor and Council said they would discuss this issue and try and come up with some way to get this training moving forward here.

It takes 24 hours of training to become a certified CERT individual.  Short meetings of three or four hours are just a start toward certification.  Even that amount of time, however, makes people aware of what can and needs to be done.  Individuals become more aware of what really could be accomplished and necessary giving them an opportunity to make more intelligent decisions in all kinds of different situations. 

Classes include home response, fire safety, medical classes, and so forth.  It is imperative to get this type of information shared so that people will know what to do.  The training can be taken into the home thereby making that home safer.  Even one person learning some of the information can then help others.  It is a way of making all individuals and families more self reliant.