Cottonwood Heights, in cooperation with Unified Fire Authority, would like to announce an upcoming 3 week CERT training course. Classes will be on Saturday's beginning May 2nd from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The final class and disaster simulation will take place on Saturday, May 16th from 8:00 to 1:00 pm.
The classes are taught by trained personnell from our fire department and help prepare volunteers with the necessary skills for helping others in times of disaster. Come and learn to help your neighborhood be better prepared.
Cost is $30 (includes helmet, vest, first aid gear and textbook.) Participants will need to bring safety glases, gloves, and sturdy work books.
Pre-Registration for all classes is required and must be done online at www.unifiedfire.org or contact UFA at 743-7150 or email community assistance@ufa-slco.org.
Spring Class Flyer Cottonwood Heights Class Flyer
Here are a few useful links for Emergency Prepardness
http://wasatchfaultneighborhood.blogspot.com/
http://bereadyutah.gov/
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TIP FOR JANUARY
Those who read these pages on a regular basis have probably picked up on a theme that appears each month – Emergency Preparedness. Many in the city, including the council and city manager, along with staff members and myriad volunteers, are preparing for the eventuality of an emergency situation requiring us to operate outside our comfort zones in uncharted territory (disasters).
Each month this paper provides you with an Emergency Tip. If followed, these tips are designed to provide you with steps you should take within your own family and home to do all possible for yourself and your loved ones to enhance the probability of surviving a disaster. The hope of those who work at preparing for emergencies, either through employment or hobby, is that all residents or our city will prepare themselves to be able to handle the first 72 hours of any emergency (generally considered the time that will be required for first responders to reach you in the event of a significant disaster, i.e. earthquake).
In the meantime the professionals and volunteers continue to prepare the equipment and rehearse the procedures that will “kick-in” the event an extended power outage, severe snowstorm, earthquake, terrorist attack, or other natural or man caused disaster that we hope will never occur. Part of their training includes periodic tests to be sure the equipment is functioning properly and that personnel understand their roles in helping to open up communications, for example.
Such a test occurred on Saturday, January 10, under the direction of Roger Kehr, City Emergency Communications Director. This drill tested five different systems designed to restore communications to the residents of Cottonwood Heights. The test was successful thanks to the efforts of Roger Kehr, Ben Coray, Ed Hansen, Carl Blanda, Mike Mladejovsky, Rex Estes, Bob Fowler, Bob Harbrecht, Suzanne Overby, Loren Smith, Mayor Cullimore, City Manager Stillman, Corporal Heath Lowry, and others whose training and reaction to a mock disaster will help to save lives in the event of an actual emergency.
These volunteer emergency responders operated the equipment, drove to the disaster locations, provided ground and technical support, tested radio systems, maintained security, interfaced with VECC, and performed admirably, on their own time, to be prepared to assist you when that time comes.
You can thank these professional volunteers by doing all you can to prepare to the point that you won’t need their help.
Once the disaster hits or is pending, it’s too late to start assembling 72 hour kits. This is a project that should be started in early January and completed by the end of the month. Do it now, while there is still time and resources and before the stress of a disaster is upon you.
Don’t make a resolution to accomplish this task, but SET A GOAL and make a commitment to assemble a 72 hour kit for each member of your family by January 31, 2009. Other important goals for 2009 are to sign up for a CERT class or for additional emergency preparedness classes. Make a decision that by summer, June 1, 2009, you will have a completed a CERT course or at least one advanced emergency preparedness course that will benefit the entire family.
Determine and commit to be better prepared for an emergency. It’s important to “Plan Ahead” in knowing where the 72 hour kit is and that it contains the right supplies for survival.
The American Red Cross presented a Power Point presentation at a recent City Council Meeting. You can download it and view it again or for the first time.