Community Emergency Response Team Free Basic Training

This information was provided by Emergency Services Specialist Bryan LaSota. 

The San Benito County Office of Emergency Services has announced they will be hosting a free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course that will be held on three consecutive Saturdays in April at the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, located at 2301 Technology Parkway, Hollister, CA 95023.  

The schedule for the course is as follows: 

• Saturday, April 7, 2018 – 8:30 am to 4:45 pm 
• Saturday, April 14, 2018 – 8:30 am to 4:45 pm 
• Saturday, April 21, 2018 – 8:30 am to 4:45 pm 

A disaster simulation exercise will be held on the last Saturday of the course and is likely to let out early.  

The FEMA-certified course is designed to educate San Benito County residents about preparedness for hazards that may impact the community. According to press release from the County of San Benito Office of Emergency Services, the course will provide training in basic emergency response skills, such as: disaster preparedness, fire safety, home utility control, light search and rescue, emergency medical operations, community response team organization, and disaster psychology.  

“Using skills learned in the classroom and during exercises, participants will be better prepared to safely and appropriately provide assistance to their family, neighborhood, community, and workplace following a disaster when professional responders may not be immediately available to help,” the press release said. “Once the basic training course has been completed, CERT members are eligible to be deployed in the community to assist with large scale emergency and disaster incidents.” 

To RSVP for the course or for more information email Bryan LaSota at Blasota@cosb.us or call the San Benito County Office of Emergency Services at 831-636-4168.