Neptune Volunteer Emergency Response Team Begins Training
By ANDREW CANGIANO
The Neptune Township Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) began its training program this week.
Volunteers who live in the township are being trained in several areas – including disaster preparedness, fire suppression, and basic first aid, said program coordinator, Drew LaFrance, a lieutenant in the townships police department.
LaFrance said the program, which will feature training classes every Tuesday and Thursday during the month of February, will be broken into eight units: disaster preparedness, fire safety, basic first aid, first aid in a disaster, search and rescue, the history and origin of CERT, disaster psychology, and terrorism.
At the end of the course there will be a disaster simulation as trainees will participate in a mock building collapse, LaFrance said.
He said the program ensures that those who wish to volunteer will receive proper training about how to assist the community during a disaster.
Assisting in the training program are the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management, the Neptune Township Office of Emergency Management, the Neptune Township First Aid Squad, the Neptune Township and Ocean Grove Fire Departments, and the Monmouth County Fire Marshalls Office.
LaFrance said many of those being trained in the CERT program are members of the Neptune Housing Patrol or the Ocean Grove Citizens Patrol.
Ray DeFaria, who is enrolled in the course, said the cross section of people in the group, which includes everyone from members of citizen patrols to a retired minister, is a benefit to the community.
He said the group has been trained by different emergency response teams, such as members of the fire department and EMT units.
DeFaria said the course teaches citizens how to better protect their home and community in emergency situations.
For instance, when the group received training from the fire department, they learned how to use a fire extinguisher and what types of fires it should be used for.
They also learned how to check smoke alarms and carbon dioxide detectors, and when and how to shut off the electricity and gas in ones home.
DeFaria said this prepares CERT members for an emergency, when they have no time to look for answers in a manual.
At least its in the back of your mind, should there be a situation, he said.
The course stresses that the CERT team exists to aid emergency personnel, not to replace them.
DeFaria said the training has emphasized that in such a crisis you yield to the professionals, he said.
Graduation for the CERT program is tentatively scheduled for March 4.
The current class is full to capacity with 15 members, but more opportunities for training will be available later this year, LaFrance said.
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