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Manteca Police starting CERT training session April 9
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CERT training includes learning the proper use of a fire extinguisher. - photo by Photo Contributed
Can you make a difference in an emergency?

Volunteers who have taken the six-week City of Manteca’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training know the answer is yes.

Manteca CERT crews mobilized during the oppressive heat wave two years ago found an elderly woman in a Manteca mobile home park in the early stages of heat stroke whose life was saved thanks to their assessing the striation and contacting emergency crews.

CERT crews have been called in to help canvas areas for missing children in Manteca. They have assisted with other events such as crowd control during parades.

And some have answered a national call for help when hurricanes devastated New Orleans and Florida.

Training for potential members of the CERT team starts on Thursday, April 9.  The training will be six weeks long, one night a week.  At the training participants will learn the needed skills to be an active member of the CERT program, which is part of the United States emergency management plan.  Manteca has nearly 75 members on the team.  A number of them have been involved in large scale disasters across America and many missions right here in Manteca.

Members will learn basic first aid, light rescue, basic fire suppression, group management and disaster management.  The class will allow those who attend to apply to be a member of the Manteca disaster service workers cadre of volunteers.   For more information those interested can contact the CERT leader Jesse Ramirez at 209-471-2306 for an application.   

Additional information on the CERT team can also be found at www.mantecapd.com/cert