By JOSHUA PHILLIPS
Northeast News
June 7, 2013

The city of Kansas City, Mo., is offering Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) for residents to handle emergencies and disasters when they happen.

Individuals 18 and older who live or work in Kansas City, Mo., can participate in a free CERT program that will take place at the city’s Emergency Operations Center, 635 Woodland Ave. in Kansas City, Mo. These hands-on classes will be held the last three Saturdays of June: June 15, 22 and 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Participants must attend all three classes to receive CERT certification.

“You never know where you are going to be or who will be around when an emergency occurs,” said Jennifer Fales, training coordinator for the CERT program. “We all need these basic skills to take care of ourselves and others in disaster situations.”

During the CERT training, participants will learn how to prepare a disaster plan and emergency kit, put out small fires, manage utilities, be able to do a light search and rescue, provide basic medical aid to injured persons, identify psychology issues from disasters and more.

“It is very hands-on with the diversity of skills you are getting from this program,” Fales said. “The pay-off of this program is invaluable. The question to ask is, ‘Who depends on you? Who might need you to help them?’”

Individuals interested in participating in the CERT program for a profession or who want to learn how to handle disaster situations, can contact Fales at (816) 513-8602 or at jennifer.fales@kcmo.org. The program asks for individuals to register early since seating is limited to receive CERT certification.