Kirkland Seeks Volunteers for Disaster Preparedness Training

The City of Kirkland is seeking a new class of volunteers to learn disaster preparedness skills such as triage, basic first-aid and search and rescue, as part of its eight-week Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program.

Kirkland’s . The next class begins Sept. 17, and is 6-9 p.m. for eight consecutive Mondays.

“The purpose of the class is to help create a resilient community, a community less impacted by a disaster because residents are prepared,” said Helen Ahrens-Byington, Kirkland’s Deputy Fire Chief. “A prepared community is prepared at the individual level and, at the same time, is developing a team of people who are ready to assist others after a disaster when emergency response is likely to be overwhelmed.”

The curriculum was developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Participants learn how to support their neighborhoods by preparing for and responding to disasters. Specifically, they’ll learn fire suppression, triage and basic first aid, search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization. The program culminates on Nov. 11 with a simulated disaster.

To register, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/cert. Registration is $35 per person and includes a manual, hardhat, vest, backpack and emergency supplies. Classes will be held at , 6400 108th Avenue NE.

This class is sponsored by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in partnership with the city’s Office of Emergency Management and volunteers who support the program and Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council. To sponsor the winter 2013 class, or to request more information, contact Karen with the Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council, klightfeldt@comcast.net.

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From a City of Kirkland press release.