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The next Community Emergency Response Team Training (C.E.R.T) class 11 is going to begin on Tuesday August 9th through Tuesday October 8th from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. There will also be one practical exercise on one Saturday.

During training, CERTs learn to:
-Prepare for the hazards that threaten their communities.
-Apply size-up and safety principles.
-Locate and turn off utilities.
-Extinguish small fires.
-Identify hazardous materials situations.
-Triage and treat victims.
-Set up a medical treatment area.
-Conduct searches and rescues in lightly and moderately damaged structures.
-Understand the psychological impact of a disaster on themselves and others.
-Organize CERT members and spontaneous volunteers for an effective and safe response.
-Apply response skills in a disaster simulation.

Additional information about the Forsyth County Community Emergency Response Team can be found on the Forsyth County Sheriff's Website at http://www.forsythsheriff.org/ , then on the left go to "programs" and CERT is toward the bottom. At the bottom of the CERT page is a link to our CERT section of the website http://www.forsythsheriff.org/cert-crimeprevention-157 and the application for the classes. If you cannot make this class, you may submit an application for a later class (date for future classes may not have been determined). Completed applications can be mailed or hand delivered to Sgt Allan Frampton 475 Tribble Gap Road, Suite 200 Cumming, Ga 30040. Please call Sgt Allan Frampton at 678-513-5982 or email at  for questions or further information about signing up for this class.

Q: Why take the CERT training?

A: Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, there can be an emergency or disaster that can overwhelm the community's immediate response capability. While adjacent jurisdictions, State and Federal resources can activate to help, there may be a delay for them getting to those who need them. The primary reason for CERT training is to give people the decision-making, organizational, and practical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors, and associates while waiting for help. While people will respond to others in need without the training, the goal of the CERT program is to help people do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

A success story about CERTs comes from events during the wildfires in Florida. The Edgewater CERT helped emergency management and the fire department personnel by assisting with evacuation; handling donations; preparing food for firefighters; and answering the phone while the professionals were fighting the fire. This is a great example of CERT members and response personnel working together for the benefit of the community.