The Navarre Community Emergency Response Team are offering one of the twice yearly training courses starting March 18.
The 25 hour Introduction to CERT class will take place at Holley-Navarre’s Fire Station #45, 8618 Esplanade St., Navarre; Fri-Sat-Sun March 18, 19, 20 and 25, 26, 27.
The training is open to the public and is free of charge. Participants must be at least 18 years old, but do not have to be a Navarre resident. A teenager (14 – 17) may participate with parental consent.
Completion of the course does not obligate the participant to become part of CERT, but does qualify the student to be part of any Community Emergency Response Team in the country.
CERT Administrative Section Chief Sue Ferson said the training course gives people the knowledge everyone needs for emergencies.
“In cases of an emergency, especially those emergencies that don’t give us much warning, people need to know what do to be prepared and what to do to help their own families, their neighbors and their community. And always help in that order,” said Ferson.
Pre-registration and FEMA Independent Study course IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams are required to participate in CERT training. The FEMA course is available online at www.citizencorps.gov/cert/training.
At the end of the training course, there is a “live” exercise (simulated disaster) and a small graduation ceremony.
For more information, visit http://www.navarrecert.org/ or call 850-936-5163.