2012 CERT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Registration is Now Open for Spring 2012 Training Sessions

CLICK HERE FOR CERT APPLICATION

June 2010 Final Drill Participants Practice Spinal Immobilization

Fremont Township will provide Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) in a series of six sessions at the Fremont Township Center. Classes will meet at 7:00 p.m. on March 27, April 3, 17, 24, and one Saturday morning, April 14 from 8-12. There will also be a final exam with the date to be determined. Class materials and training equipment are provided free to residents through grant funds provided by FEMA and IEMA. Enrollment is limited to individuals 18 years of age or older, or teens age 16 and 17 with a signed permission slip and waiver from their parents. Individuals who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). High School and college students seeking community volunteer hours will also be provided with a letter of completion for their school file.

The training program is approximately 20 hours long and is divided into six to seven training sessions on the following topics: Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Fire Suppression, Disaster Medical Operations Parts 1 & 2, Light Search and Rescue Operations, and Disaster Psychology and Team Organization. Upon completion of the 20 hour training session, individuals are encouraged to participate in a simulated disaster drill at the Countryside Fire Station on Midlothian Rd. in Mundelein. All course graduates are welcome to join the Fremont Township CERT Team, but it is not required.

Individuals interested in CERT training may download the application at www.fremonttownship.com (click on the CERT link) or call the Township at 847-223-2847 to request an application. Registrations must be received at the Township Office, 22376 W. Erhart Rd., Mundelein, Illinois 60060, or emailed to: trusteemccann@comcast.net. by March 12, 2012. Participation is limited to the first 20 registrants. Registrations will be confirmed via email or U.S. Mail. For more information on CERTS read “General Information About CERTS” on this website or visit www.citizencorps.gov/certs

We have a great relationship with the Countryside Fire Protection District
Mundelein/Vernon Hills Stations.

Participants in the June 2010 Final Skills Review Session

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CERTS
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Participants in the November 2006 Disaster Drill Simulation

Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. Through previous disasters it has been proven that individuals who have emergency response training are better equipped to assist others during disasters and avoid injuring themselves while trying to help others. In response to this need, local governments are working within their communities to form Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTS) with qualified, trained volunteers.

The Fremont Township CERT Program is the only CERT Program in the State of Illinois that is sponsored by a local Township. In the all of 2006 our first group of 22 volunteers completed entry level CERT training and then organized the Fremont CERT Team to serve the Fremont Township community, and assist local first response agencies such as fire and police departments. Since then an additional 35 volunteers have graduated from our Program. Currently there are 28 active volunteers participating on the Fremont Township CERT Team and improving their disaster response skills through ongoing refresher training, emergency disaster drills, and outreach activities. The Team is currently divided into four committees; Administration and Planning, Equipment and Supply, Outreach and Public Relations, and Training. Each member of the Team must participate on at least one committee and contribute to the ongoing activities of the Team.

The program is financially self-sufficient, funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). Since 2006 we have been awarded $14,500.00 in Federal and State grants. Grant funds support Team training activities, equipment purchases for our supply trailer, equipment and supplies for individual Team members, classroom materials for the training of new recruits, outreach activities and a variety of other needs.

The Team currently receives training assistance and overall guidance from the Countryside Fire Protection District and is networking with CERT Teams from the Villages of Mundelein and Libertyville to ensure that there is a unified response should a disaster happen in one or all of our three communities. For More information on CERT visit www.citizencorps.gov/cert.

Practicing victim carry techniques

Neck and Head Immobilization Technique