MOSES LAKE - About 20 volunteers with Grant County's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) recently completed a training exercise in emergency preparedness.

The simulated disaster exercise took place Saturday and was the culmination of 21 hours of training completed by volunteers from the Moses Lake area, according to Kyle Foreman with Grant County Emergency Management.

The CERT program educates people to prepare for hazards in their area by training them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations, Foreman stated.

"Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help," he stated. "CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community."

The CERT course is delivered by a team of first responder instructors, usually in two-and-a-half hour sessions one evening a week or on weekends over a nine week period, according to information provided by Grant County Emergency Management.

Participants learn to manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be as effective as possible.

The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. Two years later the program's importance was underscored by the Whittier Narrows earthquake, which confirmed the need to train more civilians to help in calamitous times.

As a result, the Los Angeles Fire Department created the Disaster Preparedness Division to expand training of private citizens and government employees to prepare better for disasters.

The program, which has since been made available nationally, increases people's ability to help themselves, their family and their neighbors safely, according to Grant County Emergency Management.

Additional CERT volunteers are needed in Grant County. More information is available at 509-762-1462 or by visiting www.co.grant.wa.us/EM.