The following was submitted by the city of Palm Desert:
The City of Palm Desert is offering two, free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes at College of the Desert's Public Safety Academy.
Each free, 20-hour class is taught over three days. Certification and a free disaster preparedness kit are awarded to those who complete the course.
Class I will be held on Sunday, January 13, from 8 a.m. to noon, and on Saturday and Sunday, January 19 and 20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Class II will be held on Saturday April 13, from 8 a.m. to noon, on Sunday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, April 20, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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
Classes are limited to 40 students and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must be fully committed to the three-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 760-776-7420 or 760-862-1367.
