CERT now open to children after successful pilot run

DOWNEY - Downey’s CERT program will now be opened to children, after a successful pilot trial produced its first minor-aged certified member this year.

Previously, Downey offered a CERT course to adults for the purpose of emergency preparedness and disaster response training.

“Traditionally, the curriculum was always [for] 18-years or older,” said Rakdy Khlok, Downey’s Emergency Manager.

“We cover quite a lot of things; we’re training people to do light search-and-rescue after a disaster. So, I think with that in mind, that’s why it was always for 18-year-olds.”

“There is a Teen CERT as well, but it’s focused more on leadership.”

However, the most recent class of CERT trainees includes 11-year-old Darian Guerra.

Guerra – who is the son of one of Downey’s firefighters – says that he first took an interest in CERT when his father began helping with the training.

He now opens the door for other young individuals who may have an interest in the safety of their community in the event of an emergency.

“Because I did the whole program, I basically allowed kids to do CERT,” said Guerra. “I feel like it would be good, because you never know. Nowadays, there’s a lot of things happening. You have to be prepared.”

Khlok says that Guerra was “our pilot.”

“I hesitated a little bit only because we’ve never done that,” said Khlok. “[Participants] range from their 20’s to even their 60’s and 70’s, so having Darian I wasn’t sure what that dynamic would look like.”

However, Khlok says that things “worked out fabulously.”

“Now we are opening it up, however, minors must be accompanied by an adult,” said Khlok.

The program will now include children ages 11 and older but the curriculum will remain the same and is still primarily aimed towards adults.

It also remains to be seen how minors would be utilized – if at all - in the event of an emergency where the CERT team might be activated.

“We’re not quite there yet,” said Khlok. “Right now we’re just looking at the training component, making sure that the kids are able to feel confident enough to take care of themselves, their families, and their neighborhood.”

Downey’s next CERT class will take place in April next year.