An emergency preparedness class aimed to train citizens to be able to provide assistance during a disaster in Malibu is scheduled to start up next week.
The City of Malibu is once again teaming up with the Los Angeles County Fire Department to offer the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course, which is free, according to Emergency Services Coordinator Brad Davis.
The next training will be presented as a series of seven Thursday classes: Jan. 31 through March 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Malibu City Hall, Davis said.
All classes must be attended in order to complete the full course, but missed classes may be made up at a later date, according to Davis.
"The purpose of Malibu CERT is to assist the City by providing assistance, as needed, for emergency disaster response in Malibu and surrounding communities, and to educate and promote disaster/emergency awareness to all citizens," Davis said.
To sign up for the CERT training course, contact Davis at (310) 456-2489 ext. 260 or bdavis@malibucity.org.
"The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department to provide basic training in safety and lifesaving skills to the general public. It has since been adopted and enhanced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Fire Academy. The course is now recognized nationwide and over 50,000 citizens have been trained to date. CERT classes contain the following modules: Disaster Preparedness Fire Suppression Medical Class #1 Medical Class #2 Light Search And Rescue Terrorism Team Organization & Disaster Psychology Course Review & Disaster Simulation Drill Mission Statement: The purpose of Malibu CERT is to assist the City of Malibu by providing assistance, as needed, for emergency disaster response to the City of Malibu and surrounding communities and to educate and promote disaster/emergency awareness to all citizens." http://www.malibucity.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/detailgroup/navid/182/cid/8376/