The City of Cedar Park is offering emergency response classes for community members on Tuesday evenings starting June 11. The city's emergency management department hopes to recruit and train a community emergency response team, or CERT, that would be asked to support emergency personnel in an emergency or disaster.
The seven-week class from 6–9 p.m. covers topics such as disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, search and rescue, disaster psychology, team organization and terrorism awareness.
Michael Clanton, Cedar Park Emergency Management coordinator, who also serves as the coordinator for the CERT program, said the skills learned can help save and sustain lives until professional first responders arrive.
"The CERT program teaches citizens how to help themselves, their families and their neighbors in a widespread emergency where first responders may be overwhelmed," Clanton said in a statement. "CERT emphasizes the importance of personal emergency preparedness and how to have a plan, make a kit [and] stay informed."
