Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps is offering a free emergency preparedness and response training academy beginning Jan. 22.

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

The CERT Academy offers 25 hours of training during six sessions over two consecutive weekends. The training is free and trainees are not required to become a Citizen Corps volunteer to participate.

No special skills are required. Children 12-15 may participate with parent’s supervision, teens 16-17 with parent’s permission. To sign up for training, call CERT Program Manager Shirlee Rhodes at 775.325.6928 or email: srhodes@washoecounty.us.ement and support all of the Sheriff’s Office volunteer Citizen Corps Programs.