Sign up for O’Fallon’s free disaster preparedness training

Get prepared for emergencies and disasters in a weekend with the help of the O’Fallon Police Department. Anyone who lives or works in or near O’Fallon is invited to sign up to learn basic disaster response skills by attending the O’Fallon Police Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to be held March 1 through March 3, in the Public Works Building at 1089 Public Service Drive in O’Fallon. The free, 20-hour course is taught by the O’Fallon Police Department and emergency professionals.

The course, which includes training materials, will cover:

• Basic medical assessment and treatment for injuries, burns, etc.
• Preparing for emergencies at home and in the community
• Working as a team, conducting triage, light search and rescue, extinguishing small fires
• Communicating effectively with public safety organizations during a disaster

The schedule for the CERT session is 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Friday (March 1), 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday (March 2), and 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday (March 3). Graduates are invited to learn more and keep skills fresh with free monthly training and exercises.

“During an extreme weather emergency or an earthquake, for instance, it’s going to be important to know what do to help yourself, your household and your neighbors until professional help arrives,” said Police Officer Andy Stowers, director of O’Fallon CERT. “That’s why this exciting, hands-on training is important to neighborhood organizations, parents, older teens, businesses, civic groups and churches as well as individuals.”

For more information or to register for the training, visit the city’s Web site at www.ofallon.mo.us and select “Police” on the homepage, or go directly to www.ofallon.mo.us/PD/CERT. For questions, contact Stowers at 379-5686, or e-mail astowers@ofallon.mo.us.