Emergency Response Training
Kicks Off In Clifton
CLIFTON, NJ — Being a responsible citizen often means helping your neighbors. But what if you need to help others during a major crisis like a severe weather event or some other disaster? During a crisis, professional emergency responders are often dealing with the most severe situations like major fires and rescue operations. But they also depend on citizens to report emergencies and act responsibility until more help arrives. Enter the CERT Program. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. “We are proud to offer training to any person who is interested in helping others,” says Fire Department Captain Philip Cheski. “The CERT program will walk you through the best actions to take before, during and after a disaster strikes.”
The CERT Program is made possible through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and delivered by local agencies like the Clifton Fire Department throughout the nation. The Department is holding a Meet and Greet kick-off event on February 13th at 7 PM in Clifton City Hall to introduce the program. Afterwards, 20 hours of classroom and hands-on training will prepare Clifton’s next group of CERT volunteers. For more information, contact Michael Onder, Clifton’s Deputy OEM Coordinator, at (973) 470-5801.
– City of Clifton – Fire Department