CERT looking for new members
By PAUL BAUMANN
There is a drive on for new CERT team members and that’s what we will talk about this month. This is right from a CERT handout:
There’s a new team on Pine Island!
It’s called the Community Emergency Response Team, and it began in 1985 with the Los Angeles Fire Department’s need to respond to wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters. In 1994 CERT expanded nationally and today CERT teams are in hundreds of communities across America.
Last year, CERT came to Pine Island following Hurricane Charley. Under the leadership of our Pine Island Fire Department, our first team of 16 CERT members received training in all phases of disaster response – from aiding professionals in light search and rescue, to fire suppression and medical triage.
Now we want to expand CERT from Bokeelia to St. James to Matlacha by training new teams before disaster strikes again. For more information on how you can join our team, call (239) 283-0030. Because we live here and we take care of our own.
That handout says it all. In order to join you will have to pick up an application form and fill it out. The form can be found at Firehouse #1 at the Center or get one from Lee County Emergency Management by calling (239) 533-3622.
Why join? I’ll quote a part of the application form:
“By volunteering, CERT members take an active approach that helps to create a more resilient community. CERT volunteers use a combination of CERT training, their life’s experiences and knowledge of their community to help professional emergency responders prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. In response to events like Hurricane Charley and tropical storm Fay, CERT volunteers helped manage shelters, providing fellow county residents a place of safety during the storm. Also, CERT volunteers support the community year-round by participating in exercises, drills, and disaster preparedness outreach activities.”
Cert members are trained in CPR, search and rescue, triage, taught to use a defibulator, trained in first aid, issued a photo I.D. card and uniform with a tote bag and a “participant manual,” which contains study materials on all the aforementioned activities that you will participate in.
Interested? Get involved now!