CERT class teaches emergency preparedness

Published March 4, 2008
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Know what to do in case of disaster? Thanks to Peterson's first Citizen Emergency Response Team class, about 20 Airmen, dependents, spouses and civilians do.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center and the Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management hosted CERT training here Feb. 28 and 29. Members of Colorado Springs' police and fire departments taught participants about topics such as disaster preparedness, light search and rescue and fire safety.

The joint effort class is the first of its kind in the Air Force, according to Kathy Latzke, director of the AFRC. Ms. Latzke had attended the city's regular CERT trainings in the past and worked with the city to bring the free training on base.

"The purpose of the class is to ensure everyday citizens have the knowledge they need in order to survive and provide assistance in an emergency situation within the community," Ms. Latzke said. "I recognized that this is something we need to provide to our military community. It's a great opportunity for spouses, dependents and active duty to learn about emergency preparedness."

Pauline Nelson, CERT coordinator for the city's Office of Emergency Management, said the classes are especially important for military families that might have a member deploying or going on temporary duty assignment regularly. Knowing that a spouse or dependent can handle an emergency situation can make the absence less stressful for everyone, she said.

"There are deployments that go on, and people are TDY," she said. "We know that the active duty here will be much more comfortable if they know their families are prepared."

The city will likely host trainings on base twice a year, with the next one occurring sometime in October, Ms. Latzke said. Eventually, if enough people receive the training, Peterson will be able to conduct its own trainings, Ms. Latzke said.

"My hope in this is to get as many civilian, dependent and active duty trained to hopefully, in the future, have an official CERT team here on base," she said.

Staff Sgt. Jason Burnett and his fiancée Senior Airman Jennifer McMahon, who both attended the CERT class, said they wouldn't mind seeing that happen. With deployment possible for either one of them in the future, the class helped the pair, who live off base, feel more secure about leaving the other behind, they said.

"This is a lot of information you usually only get in specialized training, like for paramedics, fire fighters, stuff like that, but it's good info to know," Sergeant Burnett said. "The class talks about a lot of situations you never really think about because you don't imagine them happening to you, but they can."

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