Wilton CERT, the all-volunteer Community Emergency Response Team, in conjunction with the Wilton Emergency Management director Police Chief John Lynch, has scheduled its annual disaster preparedness training program. Wilton citizens are invited to become trained to help family, friends, and neighbors in the event of an emergency or disaster.
CERT instructors certified by the CT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, along with other instructors from the Wilton Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service will assist in the training.
Training will cover a variety of emergency skills, including:
- how to prepare for when a disaster strikes
- fire safety, including how to extinguish small fires and how to evacuate a smoke filled building
- basic first aid
- disaster psychology
- hazardous materials
- terrorism awareness
The training involves classroom and field practical exercises including radio communications and traffic control instruction. At the conclusion of the course, disaster preparedness backpack kits will be provided free to all participants.
Upon successful completion of the course, graduates are eligible for and encouraged to join the Wilton CERT organization. As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Wilton CERT regularly provides assistance to the town and its first responders at large emergency incidents and public events. Wilton CERT has performed a broad range of deployment activities, including traffic and crowd control duties, search and rescue for missing persons, staffing Wilton’s emergency shelter and distributing emergency food and water as and when required.
The class begins Monday, Jan. 20, and is limited to 35 people, so interested persons should register as soon as possible. Please visit the Wilton CERT website for information and to register online. Course participants must be 16 years or older, however those wishing to join CERT must be at least 18. There is no cost for this training.
For further information, please email Dave Heiden.