C.E.R.T. Course Set to Begin in Lakewood
Lakewood C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team), a thorough and comprehensive disaster and emergency training course for men and women 18 years and older, will begin February 5, 2019, with six sessions from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. for the first 40 people who are accepted into the program. Participants are expected to attend all classes and exercises to graduate and become a certified Lakewood C.E.R.T. member.
C.E.R.T. is a division of Lakewood’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), falls under the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office’s C.E.R.T. program, and is recognized by the N.J. State Police Office of Emergency Management. C.E.R.T. courses are designed to educate local residents about many aspects of disaster preparedness for any number of situations that may occur. The course trains individuals in basic disaster and emergency response skills in classroom and live exercise settings. C.ER.T. volunteers are taught how they can assist and work together with local First Responder Units in the community to assist and provide essential services to the community in their work.
Among the many topics covered and taught by certified by C.E.R.T. teachers are disaster preparedness, search and rescue, fire safety, team organization, hazardous materials, first aid staffing stations for large events, storm spotting and preparation, CPR, and disaster medical operations, and lifesaving ways one can help First Responders in all types of situations.
Retired Captain Howie Butt of the N.J. State Police has stressed the excellence of the Lakewood C.E.R.T. program calling it, “the gold standard of C.E.R.T. programs.”
To apply for the 2019 Lakewood C.E.R.T. training program visit www.lakewoodcert.com, Volunteer for CERT tab. Applicants are required to upload a headshot and a copy of a valid driver’s license. If accepted, Lakewood C.E.R.T. will notify applicants of the exact dates, times, and venues of classes. For more information visit www.lakewoodcert.com or email trainings@lakewoodcert.com
All applicants will be considered on a first-come first-serve basis. Those who miss the space limit for this year’s course, will be put on the waiting list for next year’s course.