5.2. SR 01-27-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DeRve~. The CERT Course is delivered in the community by a team of First Responders who have the required knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. The CERT training for community groups consists of the follo~ving: · Disaster preparedness · Disaster fire suppression · Disaster medical operations · Light search and rescue operation · Disaster psychology and team organization · Course review and disaster simulation Maintaining Involvement When participants have completed this training, it is important to keep them involved and practiced in their skills. Trainers should offer periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training. CERT teams can sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood cleanup, and disaster education fairs which will keep them involved and trained. CERT members should receive recognition for completion of their training. Communities may issue ID cards, vests, and helmets to CERT program graduates. First Responders need to be educated about CERT and their value to the community. Using CERT as a component of the response system when there are exercises for potential disasters can reinforce this idea. Conclusion 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 where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small f~res; provide basic medical aid by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and the spontaneous volunteers to be effective. The Division of Emergency Management for the State of Minnesota has a 2002 Citizen Corps and CERT grant program through which we are applying for funding. The funding will pay for a CERT Team Instructor and delivery time, program administration, creation and maintenance of CERT database, rental of a training facility, purchase of CERT member equipment, printing of CERT materials, and other CERT items. The Citizen Corps/CERT grant program is 100% Federally funded, no match is required from the State or from local agencies. On-going funding for the Citizen Corps Council and CERT team program will be approximately $750.00 per year and will be funded through the Emergency Management budget. Action Requested I am requesting Mayor and City Council approval by Resolution of the establishment of the City of Elk River Citizen Corps Council. I will be present at the January 27, 2003 City Council meeting to answer any questions the Mayor and City Council may have in reference to the Citizen Corps Council and Community Emergency Response Team program. S: \ OFFSITE\ FIPd-2~ CouncilMemos~ CitizenC orps.doc