Golden Valley Fire District

All over Mohave County communities have organized CERT teams to inspire people to take action and get involved in their hometown emergency preparedness activities.

CERT TRAINING INCLUDES:

● Disaster Preparedness

● Basic First Aid

● Fire Suppression

● Incident Command

● Search & Rescue

Community Emergency Response Teams take care of those who take care of the rest of us. Members will be average citizens who step in to assist the fire department when emergencies occur. CERT is designed to enhance the responders' abilities in disasters like, flash floods, micro-bursts or extended power outages, when our firefighters and EMTs' resources are taxed.

CERT members go through classes where they're taught things like, how to shut off utilities, administer first aid, properly use fire extinguishers, do damage assessment, participate in light rescue and work with the incident command center.

The volunteers also open shelters and man reception centers where they help coordinate services during emergencies. They are there to help people apply for programs in the wake of a disaster. Some examples are, federal assistance and zero-interest loans. The volunteers also assist in documenting victims.

CERT volunteers will be active in Golden Valley and will work in coordination with other emergency responders. CERT has monthly meetings that include training exercises and hands-on practice helping the fire department emergency personnel at the scene. Among other things, they handle rehab. In case of a structure fire or a wildfire; they provide water, sandwiches, shade, wet towels, things the firefighters would need when they're at the scene for long periods of time.

Kingman, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City fire departments all conducted shelter surveys to determine where to place shelters to house people who are displaced during disasters, and reception center surveys to help decide where to set those up if a disaster occurs. We've looked at the schools, churches and other facilities.

Each group needs a motivated leader to oversee the diverse volunteers. Anyone can be a CERT member, we can certainly use nurses, construction workers, police, fire, communications, people from all walks of life.

There are costs associated with starting a CERT team. We have to have money to purchase basic equipment for each CERT member, such as, hard hats, "go" bags, and shirts. Some CERT groups buy their own t-shirts that identify them at the scene. There are also grants for the big items, like the trailers some CERT teams have.

CERT volunteers are covered under the county's workman's compensation insurance, so they are compensated if hurt on the job.

Our CERT members will play a very important part in our community. The program is as good as the group and the sponsoring agency. In this case, it will be sponsored by the Golden Valley Fire Department. All of our firefighters are behind this 100 percent.

We need 20 to 30 volunteers to start the program and to begin the training sessions, which will take place in the classroom at Station 2 on South Egar Road. Those interested in joining should call Assistant Chief Jeff Sayre at the Golden Valley Fire Department at 928-565-3479 or Mike Browning at the County Public Works Emergency Management Office at 928-757-0910.