CERT training begins in January: Sign up now

Skagit County Community Emergency Response Team Training begins in January.

How prepared are you for a major earthquake or a fire such as the one that ravaged Ventura, Sonoma and Napa Counties this year, with only minutes for many to escape their homes?

Emergency response training classes will be held on six Tuesdays and one Saturday beginning Jan. 9 at Shelter Bay Clubhouse, 1000 Shoshone Drive, La Conner.

Classes will cover disaster preparedness, fire suppression, disaster psychology, medical operations, terrorism and light search and rescue.

If you are willing to help rescue people and provide basic first aid until police, fire and EMS personnel arrive, join the CERT team.

Similar classes will be held through the Burlington Fire Department beginning Jan. 8.

The program is sponsored by: Skagit County Emergency Management, Anacortes Fire Department, Burlington Fire Department, Skagit County, Fire District 13, Sedro Woolley Fire Department, Mt. Erie Fire Department, La Conner Fire Department, Guemes Island Fire Department, Shelter Bay Safety Committee and the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

Registration is now open. Call Rick Wallace at 360-202-3106 or e-mail: [email protected].