Palm Desert Hosting Free Emergency Training Course

The City of Palm Desert is offering free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training at Palm Desert Civic Center.

This free, 20-hour course will be taught over five days in the Council Chamber at City Hall, located at 73510 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. Participants who complete the course receive certification and a free disaster preparedness kit.

Training will commence on Monday, September 16, and conclude on Friday, September 20. Classes will be held each day from 8 a.m. to noon.

CERT promotes readiness, self-sufficiency, teamwork, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people in emergencies and disasters. Students learn how to organize relief efforts during a disaster, manage utilities, extinguish small fires, conduct light search and rescue, offer basic disaster medical care, and more.

Classes are limited to 40 students and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to Palm Desert residents and businesses, but a waiting list will be maintained for those who do not reside in the City. Participants must be fully committed to the five-day course and wear appropriate clothing (pants, closed-toed shoes, etc.). Protective equipment such as gloves, goggles, and hardhats will be provided.

For more information and to register, please call 760-776-6326.