Manassas offers free training to citizen volunteers who can help when 911 is overwhelmed

Manassas CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is the city’s local program that teaches ordinary people how to safely help in their neighborhoods when an overwhelming emergency needs more than regular 911 responders.

The fall series of CERT training sessions starts Thursday, Oct. 4, and there are a few more spots for volunteers, according to Bob Keller, the city’s CERT volunteer coordinator. Most of the classes are held at the Manassas Volunteer Fire Department. To volunteer and/or for more information email   ManassasCERT @verizon.net.

Keller reports there was renewed interest in CERT training following the earthquake here last September and after the group’s had a display set up at the city’s 2011 Neighborhood Conference.

Keller and and Bob Halsall, the city’s deputy emergency management coordinator who is the CERT program manager, will kick off the Oct. 4 session on “Disaster Preparation.”  This will cover actions to take before, during and after a disaster as well as hazards, safety, CERT concepts and applicable laws.

Other sessions will cover the the National Incident Management System; light search and rescue techniques with Lt. Rick Boyd, City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department, and firefighter Jason Campbell; disaster psychology with Lars Warkentien, the city’s CERT training coordinator; disaster medical operations; first aid/CPR/AED; disaster fire suppression. The course will conclude with an on-ground disaster simulation training exercise at Round Elementary. Most classes are on Thursday evenings with several sessions on Saturdays.

According to Keller, the CERT course will benefit anyone who takes it.  The person will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster.  Auxiliary responders can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources.
For more information go to http://www.ManassasCERT.org