The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps is offering a free emergency preparedness and response training academy beginning June 6.

The Community Emergency Response Team Academy provides residents with the information they need to help save lives and reduce trauma in the event of an emergency. CERT Academy training includes disaster preparedness, emergency medical techniques, fire safety, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism awareness education.

Training is conducted by Citizen Corps staff and volunteers along with appropriate subject matter experts. The training is free and trainees are not required to become a Citizen Corps volunteer to participate.

The CERT Academy offers 24 hours of training during six sessions over two consecutive weekends. Training takes place at the Regional Public Safety Training Center located at 5190 Spectrum Blvd., Reno.

Children 12-15 may participate with parent’s supervision, teens 16-17 with parent’s permission. To sign up for training, call CERT Program Coordinator Derek Russell at (775) 325.6928 or email drussell@washoecounty.us

For more information about the Washoe County Citizen Corps, go online.