Be a Volunteer??

MT,,,welcom to the wonderful world of CERT and the Citizens Corps!!!

I wish more people, nurses or not, would become a part of their local CC.

I figure you have noticed, or will soon, see that the more you learn about disaster preparedness, the more you don't know, but can learn!!!

I am a CERT instructor in Ohio, and currently the chairman of our county CC.

We are fairly new, but have a real good core of people working on getting the program flying, and our EMA director is wornderfull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those just tuning in,,,,CERT teaches anyone, 14 and above, the basics in disaster preparedness, you know, bottled water, blankets, etc. But it also teaches terrorism awareness, fire suppression, basic medical first aid, disaster psychology, and my personal favorite,,,,light search and rescue!!!!

The classes run around 20 hours, which believe me, isn't much, they go REAL fast!!! And the best.....(drum roll),,,,IT'S FREE.

I suggest everyone take CERT, especially if you are non-medical. And become a part of your local Citizens' Corps Council. It's all volunteer, but in the time of a disaster or emergency, CERT trained people could make all the difference until the pros arrive.

MT,,,thanks for the thread idea....I'll give back the soapbox now..:chuckle

While being a part of the CC and being CERT trained is fab...you'll be ahead of some of your classmates in some areas, don't lose focus on where you want to be, hospital, hospice, clinic or what-ever. But thinking about it, I don't know, maybe you could be hired on after graduation in your local EMA, or something like that.

Good luck!! Mike