Community Emergency Response Team
Santa Paula Fire Department is an leader in training Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. Over the last few years, we have trained over 600 local residents in how to prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies and natural disasters.
The CERT program training provides community members with valuable information on how they can best protect themselves and prepare to serve their community in the event of a natural disaster. The class is taught by Captain Steve Lazenby, and available free of charge to anyone in the Santa Paula community.
A sample of topics covered in the class include:
- Earthquke Safety and Home Disaster Kits
- Disaster Medical Operations and Triage
- Basic Search and Rescue Techniques
- Using Fire Extinguishers
The CERT Team
Community Emergency Response Team in action
Community Emergency Response Team in action
The classes are typically taught 1 evening per week for 7 weeks. At graduation, students are engaged in a mock-disaster simulation and have the opportunity to apply the skills they've learned in the course. The program also provides graduates with a Community Emergency Response kit which they can use to identify themselves in the case of a city-wide emergency and assist their friends and neighbors in their time of need.
Santa Paula has the most successful CERT program in Ventura County, and is a model for other training programs throughout the State. We encourage you to join one of our classes us by calling Captain Steve Lazenby at 805-933-4225, extension 254, or email him at slazenby@ci.santa-paula.ca.us.
You can find out more on the Santa Paula CERT website at: www.santapaulacert.com