Many cities and communities now offer CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training for their residents for free or for a nominal fee. If you have the opportunity, it is a terrific program that trains people in the community to help first responders who may be overwhelmed initially. Training touches on first aid, triage, light search and rescue, fire fighting, and terrorism among other topics.
Those who graduate from the program are "certified" to respond during an emergency in their community usually by the fire or police department. A basic CERT kit is a necessity for a CERT team member. CERT kits contain items to keep the person safe and identify them as a CERT member such as a hard hat, goggles, gloves and a safety vest. Some communities provide these at no charge and others offer the students a chance to purchase them during the class.
More Prepared also offers a deluxe version of the CERT kit which has more equipment and tools that may be needed during an emergency.
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