It may seem a little premature, but soon enough, it’ll be spring — which translates into severe weather and tornado season. Most of us hope we’re never faced with a natural disaster on our block, but the chances are definitely there. Because of this, the Dallas Police Department is getting ready to unveil Community Emergency Response Team training: a new program aimed to teach residents some basic disaster response skills. This way, if a large-scale natural disaster ever strikes our community, there are trained neighbors who can help until the city can respond. Dallas Police Deputy Chief Elliston shines a little light on the new CERT program coming to our neighborhood.
What kinds of things will volunteers learn in CERT training?
Volunteers will be trained in what to expect in the event of a disaster, both psychologically and physically; they’ll learn about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness; they’ll be taught several life saving skills and rescuer safety; and they’ll learn the importance of always doing the most good for the greatest number of people in emergency situations. By the time they complete training, they’ll know how to do things like put out small fires, treat people who have gone into shock, stop severe bleeding, and search for and rescue victims who may be trapped by debris.
And what’s the benefit of having these trained community members in our neighborhoods?
If a natural disaster overwhelms the city, emergency services may not be able to respond immediately. For example, following a tornado, streets may be blocked due to high water or debris, preventing emergency personnel from getting to the trapped and injured persons — and the tornado may have cut a large swath across the city, overwhelming our emergency personnel. In a situation like this, trained neighbors would have to assume the role of first responders. So this program is designed to help neighbors know what to do in case the city’s emergency responders can’t be there, which could ultimately save lives.
Who is in charge of training these volunteers?
Well, the city’s trained first responders provide the instruction, but the City of Dallas’ Office of Emergency Management administers the program.
And how long does it take to complete this training?
The course of instruction is a total of 24 hours, but the schedule is not set yet. The schedule will be determined by how many people show up to the first meeting.
How can people in our community sign up for classes?
Anyone interested in participating in the Community Emergency Response Team training should call the North Central Patrol Division’s Interactive Community Policing Unit at 214-671-0449 or 214-670-6498.
