Reno, NV… Washoe County residents who want to be better prepared for an emergency are invited to participate in free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training offered by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps during the last two weekends in September.

CERT training is conducted by Citizen Corps staff and volunteers along with appropriate subject matter experts. Topics include disaster preparedness, emergency medical techniques, fire safety, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism awareness.

The training is free and trainees are not required to become a Citizen Corps volunteer in order to enroll.

This 26-hour training course takes place over two consecutive weekends: Thursday, September 19 through Saturday, September 21 and Thursday, September 26 through Saturday, September 28.

No special skills are required. Children 12-15 may participate with parent’s supervision, and teens ages 16-17 with parent’s permission. To enroll in this free training, call (775) 325-6927 or (775) 325-6928, or email: drussell@washoecounty.us .

What: Community Emergency Response Team Training

When: This is a 26-hour training course that takes place over two consecutive weekends:

Thursday, September 19 and Friday, September 20 from 6:00-9:00 p.m., Saturday September 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

and

Thursday, September 26 and Friday, September 27 from 6:00-9:00 p.m., Saturday September 28 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Regional Public Safety Training Center, 5190 Spectrum Blvd., Reno

Cost: Free, and trainees are not required to become a volunteer

Contact: To sign up for training, call (775) 325-6927 or (775) 325-6928,
or email: drussell@washoecounty.us

Approximately 200 volunteers currently serve in the Citizen Corps administered by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. The Corps consists of five teams: the Sheriff’s Mobile Auxiliary Response Team, Citizens Homeland Security Council, Community Emergency Response Team and the Animal Rescue Team.

During 2012, Citizen Corps volunteers donated over 18,000 hours of service to their community, saving the Sheriff’s Office $388,000 in staff time. In 2010, FEMA recognized the achievements of Washoe County’s Citizen Corps by awarding them the National Citizen Corps Achievement Awards– Outstanding Citizen Corps Council Award for a council serving a population under 750,000.

For more information about the Washoe County Citizen Corps, visit www.wcsovolunteer.org.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 150 years of proud service and community partnership in 2011. Sheriff Michael Haley is the 25th person elected to serve as the Sheriff of Washoe County. His office continues to be the only full service public safety agency operating within northern Nevada and is responsible for operating the consolidated detention facility, regional crime lab, Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, court security, service of civil process, traditional street patrols and Regional Animal Services.