The Santa Clara County Fire Department is offering a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Academy in Saratoga this summer. The training is designed to educate residents on disaster preparedness skills, enabling volunteers to assist their families and neighbors when first responders are not immediately available during a disaster or public safety emergency.
The academy consists of four evening in-person sessions and one final in-person skills exercise. Classes are held at the Joan Pisani Community Center, located at 19655 Allendale Ave, Saratoga. The evening sessions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on August 4, August 6, August 11, and August 13.
The final skills and graduation session is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
Participants will learn disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, fire suppression, light search and rescue, and terrorism awareness. Registration preference is given to individuals who reside or work within the jurisdictions served by the Santa Clara County Fire Department. These areas include Cupertino, Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, San Martin, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and the surrounding unincorporated areas.