South Cook News

Palos Park Village Council heard an update during a recent council meeting from Officer Frank Flores, who outlined the progress of the Community Emergency Response Team program.

Flores noted during the Jan. 23 meeting, which was streamed on YouTube, that the CERT program is a training program for citizens to offer them training in basic response skills that only first responders generally have, including first aid, CPR, firefighting and post disaster recovery.

“But really, it's about that team,” Flores said. “It's about getting individuals to take care of themselves, their families and their workplaces first.”

Flores said that the program develops a trained force of volunteers through a nationwide training program, with about 2,500 CERT programs operating nationwide, with many running in the state.

“ I want to make sure that they're capable because every individual [that] was able to take care of themselves during an emergency or disaster is one less individual that professional responders have to immediately worry about,” Flores said.

According to Flores, the volunteers receive training from professionals as they work alongside sworn officers and EMS, police and fire employees. They get hands-on training that prepares them for the field and allows them to fill smaller roles at community events, freeing up first responders for more critical roles.

“They can focus on the bigger picture and those that are a much more dire need than these individuals,” Flores said. “And then once they've got that taken care of, they come and provide that additional assistance by being trained volunteers to the jurisdiction.”

The program, Flores said, is open to anyone who wants to take the training, which includes nine two-hour sessions and a final examination and evaluation.

Emergency first aid is a focus, and Flores said it would come in handy in the event of a weather-related disaster, with citizen volunteers trained in first aid being able to provide basic assistance.

Animal response is another area where volunteers can help. A session will begin soon and volunteers are under no obligation to help the village or its first responders.