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The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact the Coastside and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, earthquake survival skills, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Coastside CERT basic training also offers additional instruction in basic radio communication, neighborhood emergency response organization, evacuation information, and tips for surviving a fire in the Tom Lantos tunnels.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during CERT exercises, members can assist their community or workplace following an emergency event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Coastside CERT Hybrid Basic Training is a powerful and informative course in actionable local emergency preparedness knowledge.

The course is FREE. You will receive a CERT manual in class and CERT backpack kit upon course completion.

This free training includes an online lecture portion and is to be followed up by an in-person, hands-on, practical portion.

ONLINE LECTURE PORTION OF YOUR TRAINING

• Estimated Time = 12 hours

• Access it on your mobile device or computer.

• Complete it at your pace and at your convenience, but finish by November 6, 2020.

• Course progress will be saved and can be resumed later.

• You will receive the link to the online portion of your training once you register.

• Periodically, Chief Cosgrave will hold Check-In Zoom sessions with registered students to add local Coastside knowledge to your online training and answer you questions. With a genuine passion for teaching, Chief Cosgrave weaves his three decades of Coastside first responder experiences in and out of FEMA’s basic training curriculum with threads of practical life-saving skills, relatable stories to boost, your Coastside survival IQ, and a wicked sense of humor. He knows where all the bodies are buried, so to speak (says he won’t tell :), and shares his amazing experiences to teach you, your family, and your neighbors how to stay safe.

• Certificate of online completion must be emailed to coastsidecert@gmail prior to the hands-on, practical portion of your training beginning November 7, 2020.

IN-PERSON, HANDS-ON, PRACTICAL PORTION OF YOUR TRAINING

Date and Time: November 7th-8th, 9-5

• Estimated Time = 16 hrs

• Date and Time: November 7th-8th, 9-5

• Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St., Half Moon Bay, 94019

• All COVID-19 precautions will be observed: temperature checks, masks and gloves, social distancing, handwashing, and sanitizing.

• Must attend both days and times in order to receive final certificate of course completion. You will be a full-fledged CERT graduate by end of session on November 8, 2020.

• Chief Cosgrave will design the format and content of the November 7 & 8 in-person training based on localized knowledge and this standard curriculum skills checklist. No slides. The emphasis is on learning by doing: Instructors demonstrate and students practice the skills, progressing from one skill station to another.

If you have any questions, please contact Coastside CERT Program Coordinator Cynthia Sherrill (coastsidecert@gmail.com). Thank you!

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