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June 5, 2008 For more information, contact: Emergency Training Available For Community Volunteers St. JAMES —Residents in the Meramec Region—especially those in Phelps County—interested in volunteering during emergency situations are encouraged to take advantage of a three-day course offered June 27-29 in St. James. The 20-hour training is offered free of charge. The classes are from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, 4 Industrial Drive, St. James. The training will introduce participants to the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept of preparing civilians to proactively organize and train for a disaster. CERT trainings cover disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization. Certified CERT instructor Terry Bruno will teach the course. The class is sponsored by Meramec Regional Planning Commission and the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee in partnership with the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. Lunch will be provided for participants on Saturday and Sunday. Persons interested in signing up should contact Amy McMillen at MRPC at (573) 265-2993 or by email amcmillen@meramecregion.org. Deadline for registration is June 23 2008. “We recognize that this training requires a significant investment of time,” Tammy Snodgrass, MRPC’s environmental programs manager, said, “and that is because of the importance of the work that volunteers will be doing in emergencies. We hope businesses will support their employees who are interested in attending the training. When a disaster strikes, those needing help may be your own employees, and having people who are able to act appropriately and professionally in teams prepares our region for dealing with emergencies,” she added. Snodgrass added that a local community should be prepared to take care of itself for the first 72-hours of a disaster. That’s about how long it takes for state and federal resources to be mobilized. “CERT teams ensure that trained volunteers are available to fill that void and provide the best assistance and care possible when disaster strikes, and we need trainers out in our communities who are willing to provide this important training,” she added. |