The Daily Bulletin Archive

The Buffalo State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is offering training for faculty and staff members who are interested in becoming CERT members. This training will also serve as a refresher course for current CERT members. The first training, which will cover CERT Organization and Disaster Psychology, will be held on Tuesday, June 28, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in Butler Library 210. Everyone is welcome.

Future topics will include Light Search and Rescue (July), Fire Safety (August), Disaster Preparedness (September), and Terrorism (October).

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may affect their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.

For more information, please visit the CERT website. Please direct any questions to the CERT Task Force. Register for the June 28 training through the Workshop Registration System.