Local listing agent Martin Feinberg has learned that the Los Angeles Fire Department will be offering its Community Emergency Response Team, otherwise known as CERT, training beginning this month at multiple locations around Los Angeles County.  A couple locations will be near the Culver City Real Estate area, including one at Iman Foundation-Palms Nc on Motor Avenue in Los Angeles.

The seven CERT classes will be lead by LAFD Firefighter Nigel Francis.  They will all be offered from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and each will focus on a different aspect of search and rescue.

• Class 1 on Jan. 7 will teach disaster awareness.
• Class 2 on Jan. 14 will teach disaster fire suppression techniques.
• Classes 3 and 4 on Jan. 21 and Jan. 28 will teach disaster medical operations.
• Class 5 on Feb. 4 will teach light search and rescue operations.
• Class 6 on Feb. 11 will focus on team organization and disaster psychology.
• The final class, number 7, will be held on Feb. 18 and will cover terrorism and homeland defense.

Martin Feinberg, Culver City Realtor, notes that anyone interested in attending and becoming certified must be present for all seven classes.

According to the LAFD Community Emergency Response Team website, the CERT Program was developed in 1986 when “the Los Angeles Fire Department created a pilot program to teach a core group of community members about basic fire suppression, first aid, search, and evacuation techniques. The first 30 people who completed the training demonstrated the effectiveness of the CERT concept, but it wasn’t until the October 1, 1987 Whittier Narrows Earthquake that the city saw evidence of how valuable the CERT program could be and stepped up to support it.”

The website also explains that “Anyone in good health and with a sense of community can become a part of CERT….  LAFD CERT members receive 17 ½ hours (one day a week for seven weeks) of initial training. The 7-week course is followed by full-day bi-annual refresher drills, and an opportunity to assist the LAFD at local incidents. CERT training is provided free of charge within the City of Los Angeles to anyone 18 or over.”

To schedule a CERT class or other type of training, please call CERT instructor Nigel Francis at 213-202-3136 or send an email to lafdcert@lacity.org.