Surprised by CERT training
 

I'm going on my 5th week of CERT training in Minnesota and I am pleasantly surprised by the content and the people.

http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/CertI...?submitByState

The content has actually covered a lot of little things that are easy to forget or just never get thought of. A lot of it is stuff we already know, but discussing it with people of a near similar mindset in an open classroom opens your eyes to some new angles.

It has also given me a bit more confidence in our local emergency response people. The sherrif's department and other local agencies live here and actually think about this stuff in a pretty sincere way. I feel differently about the large central auuthorities but the locals are gaining my faith.

Check them out if you get the chance. The people are interesting as well. I'm almost positive there are at least 2 other GIMers in my class.

Oh, and it's free.

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

Getting the vest and the helmet at the end of the course may well be worth the effort. I suspect those two items will help you get past checkpoints.

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

They also give you an ID badge. Last night they took our pictures for it. As I was a bit unprepared to have my photo taken, I may have looked a bit disheveled. All I could think was, "gee, that would make a good picture for a patsy photo released to the public as a wanted suspect. I should have smiled."

And we already got our goofy green hardhat and vest. My daughter has looted them from my bag.

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

i thought of getting one just in case. take over North Wyoming:shine:

http://beprepared.com/product.asp?pn=KC%20C200

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

:elefant: :hissyfit_m:

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

Welcome to the Borg, Codger.... I graduated from the first class held in my county last year. We meet once a month to keep up on info and there's the drill after each class.

I did it so I could have credentials to get into disaster areas. Since CERT is international, you do know you can report to any CERT team in the country or any other that has CERT teams, right?

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

I'm afraid you are mistaken on the international part and your CERT credentials will not get you into a disaster area (why you would want to gain entrance to a disaster area is beyond me).

"Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training."

This is a program within Citizen Corps not an international agency.

The idea is that you can take care of yourself and then help those around you.

Let me edit my comments. Why do you say CERT is international and what is your motivation for wanting to get into a disaster area.

I don't mean to come off harsh in my reply.

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

What is a fireman's motivation for getting into a burning apartment block?

Re: Surprised by CERT training
 

You can't compare a fireman to your average CERT member. The CERT member does not have the resourses or the support and the goal is to help yourself, those around you, and then to make sure you're not making a bigger problem for those trained for the heavy lifting. In other words, if you add yourself to the disaster area, you are likely adding work for the firefighters on their way.

What I was trying to point out is that the satement made about using credentials to get into a disaster area is in direct conflict with the training and purpose of CERT. Beyond that, I don't care. I was only pointing out that the training has been interesting and worthwhile.