Community Emergency Response Team wants 4S Ranch residents

4S Ranch residents and other adults living or working within Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District boundaries, Del Mar and Solana Beach are invited to join their Community Emergency Response Team.

The upcoming five-class session will begin on April 8. To graduate, participants must complete all 24 hours of training.

CERT is a nationally-recognized program that trains members of neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces in basic disaster response skills, officials said. During natural or man-made disasters emergency personnel are often stretched thin and might be unable to help residents in a timely manner. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the professional emergency crews, CERT members may be called on to assist their families and neighbors by applying skills they learned in training.

The district’s CERT class has five on-site sessions plus online lessons, which can be completed at home.

The first class will be 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 in the Encinitas Community Center. It will cover orientation and disaster preparedness.

The 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11 class at the Solana Beach Fire Station will focus on fire safety and cribbing.

The final three classes will be held at Rancho Santa Fe Fire Station No. 2 in 4S Ranch. The 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 class will be about CERT organization, disaster psychology and terrorism. The 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 class will focus on medical issues plus search and rescue. The final drill will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 25.

There is no cost to join. Graduates are provided a CERT hard hat, vest, gloves and other safety equipment so they can perform skills they learned in class. They can refresh their skills at CERT exercises and activities plus supplemental training opportunities offered by Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District.

For questions about the RSF CERT Program, send an email to bispham@rsf-fire.org or call Engineer Dave Bispham or Firefighter/Paramedic Troy Duncan at 858-756-5971.

For the Spring 2015 CERT application and additional details, go to www.rsf-fire.org/community/CERT/schedule.html.