DOWNEY - The Downey Fire Department will begin training the next class of the Community Emergency Response Team starting Oct. 6.CERT team members are trained in emergency preparedness and respond after a disaster strikes their neighborhood. Residents will learn how to increase their neighborhood's disaster readiness; assess damage after a disaster; extinguish small fires and teach fire safety; perform light search and rescue operations; perform triage and provide medical services to the injured; and organize procurement of supplies. The training program was developed by the Downey Fire Department and is designed to help neighborhoods respond to disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The city of Downey is part of a national network of CERT communities. CERT training is free and open to residents ages 18 and older. Training takes place Oct. 6, Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sign-up for training by sending an e-mail to ready@downeyca.org.

********** Published: September 20, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 23