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KEEPING CERT GRADUATES INVOLVED Jennifer Teeler, Volunteer and Neighborhood Program Coordinator, City of Federal Way, Washington One of the challenges in any CERT program is keeping volunteers engaged and involved after they have completed the CERT course. The City of Federal Way, WA has used a number of techniques do this including using CERT graduates as volunteers for projects such as installing smoke detectors in area homes, publishing a CERT newsletter, and having CERT members staff a booth at our community fair. One of the most successful ways we have kept volunteers involved in the program is by offering continuing education classes for CERT graduates. These classes can also contribute valuable skills and information to the graduate’s toolbox of knowledge gained through the CERT course. Some of the courses we have offered are:
	Advanced Search and Rescue: Our Search and Rescue instructor teaches a four or six hour class covering advanced techniques for search and rescue. This class also gives graduates another opportunity to utilize skills with hands-on practical applications. Not only does this class offer valuable information, it’s also fun!
Animals in Disaster: This course addresses how to prepare for disaster if you have pets as well as how to handle (sometimes hostile) animals in the area after a disaster. The local county animal control officer taught this class for us and it was very well-received. He discussed animal disaster kits, animal behavior, and other considerations regarding animals in disaster. This is an important area of the disaster preparedness field that is often overlooked.
Natural Gas and Power Line Safety: Our local power utility conducts Natural Gas and Power Line safety classes for first responders. We asked them to offer slightly modified classes for our CERT graduates. The information shared in these classes is pertinent to disaster, but can also be used in every day life in case of a gas leak, power outage, or generator usage. Advanced Disaster Psychology: One of our most popular CERT courses is Disaster Psychology which is taught by our Fire Department chaplain. This course is fascinating because the chaplain has practical experience that he uses to illustrate the curriculum. We offer an Advanced Disaster Psychology course in which the chaplain presents more detailed information about disaster psychology as well as offering a brief tabletop exercise. We offer all of our continuing education classes to CERT graduates throughout the area. They do not have to have graduated from our course to attend. Our philosophy is the more information we can give to anyone who wants it, the better off we will be in a disaster. We are always looking for more continuing education ideas. If anyone has an idea they would like to share with us, please email me.

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