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Niagara University offering free emergency preparedness training

by jmaloni
Fri, Sep 9th 2011 04:45 pm

CERT courses being offered in Buffalo and Grand Island

Border Community SERVICE of Niagara University will present a pair of free community preparedness training courses this fall, with one taking place on Grand Island (Sept. 15) and the other in the City of Buffalo (Sept. 21).

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training offers academic and hands-on instruction as well as a disaster training exercise that is designed to prepare participants to help themselves, their families and their neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster.

The first class on Grand Island takes place on Sept. 15 at the Grand Island Fire Co., located at 2275 Baseline Road. Classes will run for eight consecutive Thursdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and culminate in a disaster simulation on Saturday, Nov. 5. The class is open to residents in Erie and Niagara counties.

On Sept. 21, an identical course will be offered to City of Buffalo residents at the Buffalo Fire Department Training Center, located at 20 Elmwood Ave. (corner of Virginia Avenue). Classes will be held on nine straight Wednesdays from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with a disaster simulation completing the training on Nov. 16.

Due to the recent industrial fires affecting the areas near Dorothy and Chandler streets, those community members are encouraged to attend this training.

CERT training topics include:

  • Disaster preparedness: disasters and disaster workers, community preparedness
  • Emergency medical operations I: triage and treating life-threatening injuries
  • Emergency medical operations II: public health considerations and patient treatment
  • Fire safety: fire chemistry, hazards, safety and suppression
  • Light search and rescue: search and rescue size up and operations
  • CERT team organization and incident command system (ICS 100)
  • Disaster psychology: impact of disaster on rescuers and victims and its mitigation
  • Terrorism and CERT: terrorism and its goals; CERT protocols for terrorism
  • Disaster simulation training exercise: course review and hands-on exercise

Participants must be at least 16 years old and plan to attend all sessions.

The mission of Border Community SERVICE (Special Emergency Response Volunteer Initiative for Community Empowerment) of Niagara University is to provide emergency preparedness training to citizens and to encourage their participation in opportunities that enhance regional emergency readiness. Border Community SERVICE training for citizen volunteers includes CERT and MYN (Map Your Neighborhood).

To register online, visit www.niagara.edu/bcs-enrollment.

For more information on the course being held in Buffalo, contact Elizabeth Oddy, project coordinator, at 716-851-4299 or [email protected]. Those interested in attending the offering on Grand Island should contact Valerie Haseley, Niagara County project coordinator, at 716-205-0076 or [email protected].

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