As part of their graduation exercise, students had to demonstrate how to use cribbing material to rescue someone trapped under a pile of debris. Photo by Peggy McGee.
Peggy McGee
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be offering its free basic training course beginning on Oct. 9. Students will meet from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 9, 10, 16, and 17. The final class and practical exercise will take place on Saturday morning, Oct. 19. All sessions will be held at the Green Valley Fire District headquarters at 1285 W. Camino Encanto in Green Valley.
Did you ever want to learn how to operate a two-way radio? What about getting someone safely out from under a pile of rubble without injuring yourself? Or, how to keep yourself and family safe during a natural or manmade disaster? CERT will teach you how. Do you have a desire to help others? That is what CERT is all about.
You will learn all of these skills and more during the five-day course designed to prepare anyone 18 years of age or older to help family and neighbors until first responders arrive. Several Quail Creek residents will be among the instructors.
To register for this free course, visit www.ggvcert.com and fill out the “Contact Us” form. The deadline for registration is Oct. 7.
Contact Quail Creek resident John McGee with any questions at 520-207-6188 or [email protected]. You can also follow Green Valley CERT on Facebook.
Everyone who completes the course and joins CERT will receive a certificate from the Green Valley Fire District, a CERT T-shirt, and CERT backpack/duffle bag filled with necessary supplies.
Throughout the year, CERT members receive monthly training in radio operations, search and rescue, and basic medical care. For two years in a row, CERT members have assisted in live fire firefighter training exercises at Davis-Monthan. They were also on the scene during training sessions in Rio Rico to check vital signs to ensure the firefighters were fit to enter a mock smoke-filled room with zero visibility to rescue victims.
Consider joining other Quail Creek CERT residents who stand ready to help others in time of emergency.