Registration is now open for the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Course #2018-01 will start on Wednesday, January 10 2018, and wrap up, with a final practical exercise, on Saturday, February 10, 2018, Classes held twice a week, Wednesday Evenings from 7–9 PM and Saturday mornings from 9 AM–1 PM, at the Public Safety Headquarters (100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878). For more information, please contact the MC CERT Registrar @ registrar@montgomerycert.org.   Powered by Eventbrite

Colleagues: Once again the year end is upon us. This past month I have been thinking a great deal about how precious and fleeting life can be. Last week I stood at attention and watched my friend and fellow member of the RVFD be carried to his final rest. All because of the danger of operating on a highway. Captain Sander Cohen was only 33 years old, and is now gone. We should all be thankful for his sacrifice, and we MUST remember our safety as responders is paramount.  This past year also saw the passing of family members, and the remarkable survival of my 24 year old nephew who suffered a cardiac arrest at home and was saved by the quick thinking and CPR skills of his girlfriend. CPR truly does save lives! The take away here is that we need to be careful out there, be ready to help at home or away, and hold our loved ones close. I wish you each and all a happy, healthy, and wonderful 2018! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.. Greg St. James CERT Program Manager Montgomery County Fire and Rescue PSHQ 2nd Floor 100 Edison Park Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20878 240-777-2407 Greg.St.James@montgomerycountymd.gov

CERT GoTeam in Action!! Saturday, October 21 2017 marked the first ever emergency use of the Montgomery County CERT GoTeam. After a three-alarm transformer fire at The Promenade condominium complex in Bethesda that morning, some 1,000 plus people were evacuated from their homes in the 18 story north tower.  At 1407, Montgomery CERT was activated to provide support to Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service (MCFRS) and Montgomery County\’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security(OEMHS) by Montgomery County\’s Emergency Communication Center(ECC). By 1530, we had 8 teams inside the Promenade making contact with OEMHS and setting up an escort mission for residents to return to apartments and retrieve emergency belongings. 18 Go Team members responded to the call out. We stood down at 1900. Division Chief Hinde offered this review:  \”Awesome job!\” Greg St. James Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.)  Program Manager Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service 100 Edison Park Drive Gaithersburg,  MD 20878 240-777-2407

Notice from Fire Chief Scott Goldstein about Chuck Ogles (Friend of CERT)

From the CERT Program Manager: The events of recent days serve as a stark and strong reminder of why emergency preparedness is so vital for each of us; and each of our families. Hurricanes in Texas, Florida, as well as the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico demonstrate the fragility of our infrastructure and the need to be prepared to self-sustain for extended periods of time. The awful mass casualty shooting in Nevada brings a focus to the disaster medical skills we teach, and the reality that we may be called on to use those skills anytime and anyplace. Remember: the first one there is the true first responder. Greg St. James Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.)  Program Manager Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service 100 Edison Park Drive Gaithersburg,  MD 20878 240-777-2407