September is a busy month for emergency managers- the National Preparedness Month campaign run by FEMA each year pretty much dominates my time. In October, I spent my weekends assisting with a Community Emergency Preparedness Training program, or CERT for short.
I have a love/hate relationship with CERT. The CERT program asks citizens to donate 32 hours of their time to learn about basic survival skills in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, including basic disaster-based first aid, and basic search-and-rescue techniques. The program also focuses on skills that might apply in non-disaster scenarios, such as explaining the importance of proper chemical storage around the house, or letting participants practice using a fire extinguisher. (For those of you who have never put out a fire with an extinguisher- its not quite as stupid-proof as one might think!) I love the emphasis on personal preparedness and on giving individuals lifeskills they need to protect themselves and their families.
Local CERT classes are available with varying degrees of availability around the country, and every jurisdiction handles them a little differently. If you have time, they're usually a lot of fun and full of good skills. If you don't have time for a full class, consider joining a shorter BeReady program, which spends more time on the preparedness skills and less time on response skills. (I prefer these programs, myself!)
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