The Spalding County Office of Homeland Security in conjunction with the Spalding County Fire Department will be presenting a REFRESHER course for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program participants that have completed the initial training program. This is an additional step to assist in the promotion of efforts between emergency services and the people they serve. The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations and the CERT REFRESHER program will concentrate on emergency/disaster planning, safety and medical skills. CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations for citizens who may be on their own during the initial moments of a disaster. Knowing the right actions to take can make a difference. Through CERT training, citizens learn to manage utilities and put out small fires. They learn the steps to cope with the three life-threatening injuries by opening airways, controlling bleeding and treating for shock. In addition to learning how to provide basic medical aid, they are instructed in how to search for and rescue victims safely and how to organize themselves and a spontaneous group of volunteers effectively. The REFRESHER training will assist in enhancing the importance of an ongoing training program and the need for continual planning.

CERT training classes are scheduled for 3 weeks to begin on Monday, February 11, 2019 and will be held on Mondays from 2 pm- 5pm., anyone interested in participating in these classes should contact:

Spalding County Office of Homeland Security (770) 228-2129