ASHVILLE – Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Hewes Educational Center Criminal Justice students recently acquired Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certification offered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Chautauqua County Office of Emergency Services and the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus-Allegany Region Emergency Support Council.

“This certification program provides in-depth emergency training that allows our students to be ready to assist our communities in the face of disaster,” said Daniel DePietro, criminal justice program instructor at the Hewes Educational Center. “We are teaching our students with the most up-to-date materials to ensure they are prepared to continue their education in college or start careers as emergency first responders.”

To attain CERT certification, each team member completed classes in disaster preparedness, fire safety, hazardous materials awareness, the national incident command system, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness. Instructors included Dan Imfeld of the Chautauqua County Office of Emergency Services and the Lakewood Fire Department and Doug McCullor of the Fluvanna Fire Department and the Chautauqua County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The instructors are experienced disaster response professionals.

Community Emergency Response Teams are one of five partner organizations supported by Citizen Corps Councils. Other partners are the Medical Reserve Corps, Volunteers in Police Service, Fire Corps, and the Neighborhood Watch.

CERT certification allows students to support all local emergency response agencies in the event of a disaster situation or community emergency. Additionally, the certification offers students the ability to work within their school districts in the event of emergencies and also the potential to train other students.

During the CERT graduation event, students received Certificates of Completion and CERT response backpacks complete with equipment with that can be used in emergency situations.

For more information on Career and Technical Education Programs offered by Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES, visit www.e2ccb.org.