SLPS High School Students Complete CERT Training Given by City's Emergency Management Agency

Through a partnership between the City's Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency and Gateway Institute of Technology High School, 87 high school juniors have completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training this school year.

A ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 25 in the Gateway High School Auditorium, 5101 McRee, at which time those students will be presented with their CERT packs and a certificate of completion.

CERT programs are important support efforts for emergency responders. In times of disasters, emergency responders can use all the assistance they can get from others to help save additional lives.

"When disaster strikes, we want students in the City of St. Louis to know what to do," said Public Safety Director Charles Bryson. "They can play vital roles in their neighborhoods in the aftermath of a disaster, helping with search and rescue, triage and first aid duties, for example. I congratulate the students of Gateway Institute of Technology on successfully completing CERT training. They should take pride in the fact that they are now prepared to make a difference should a natural disaster strike in St. Louis."

This is the first CERT program at Gateway and was the result of collaborative efforts by Ken Riddle, EMS Programs Director at Gateway, and Sarah Gamblin-Luig of the St. Louis City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA). "This is just one way that we can make the City of St. Louis a better and safer place to live," said Gamblin-Luig.

CERT training includes sessions on disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology and team organization.

If you would like more information about CERT Training, contact CEMA at (314) 622-3501.

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