WCSO looking to train citizens for emergencies

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Corps is offering an emergency preparedness and response training academy beginning July 9. The training is free and trainees are not required to become a Citizen Corps volunteer to participate.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) 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, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism awareness education.

The CERT Academy is 25 hours of training during six sessions over two consecutive weekends.

Academy dates are:

July 9, 6-9pm

July 10, 6-9pm

July 11, 9am-3pm

July 16, 6-9pm

July 17, 6-9pm

July 18, 9am-3pm.

Training takes place at the Regional Public Safety Training Center located at 5190 Spectrum Blvd., Reno.

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, contact Shirlee Rhodes at 775.325.6928 or srhodes@washoecounty.us.