Office of Emergency Management Nevada CERT, Las Vegas Office of Emergency Management AGENCY

If a disaster strikes your area, are you prepared to help your family, friends or neighbors until first responders arrive? Learn essential life-saving skills by enrolling in a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course.  A free, two-day course is taking place Saturday, April 21st and Saturday, April 28th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2091 Wigwam Parkway (near Pebble Road) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students who attend will learn about basic fire suppression, emergency first aid, search and rescue and more.

Following a major disaster, professional-first responders providing fire, police, and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. The 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.

History has taught us that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following Hurricane Hugo, the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

We know that government emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake. We know people will attempt to assist those in need and spontaneously volunteer. What then should government do to prepare citizens?

First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, communicate the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, train them – in needed life-saving skills – with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Fourth, organize teams so that trained citizens are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

In Southern Nevada, Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and Parts of Nye Counties, the City of Las Vegas, Office of Emergency Management provides training for and coordinates the CERT program. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, weapons of mass destruction/terrorism and disaster psychology.