October so far has proven to be an extra busy month for Montgomery County CERT.  First off, a belated congratulations to the graduates of CERT Basic Class 19-03 who received their FEMA certificates on September 28. Well done one and all! The final CERT Basic class for this year is almost full and runs October 23- November 23. In answer to the many requests for more CPR classes, please watch this website. When we schedule a class we will post it here. The Go Team has been very active with an excellent deployment at the City of Gaithersburg’s annual Oktoberfest celebration! The Go-Team staffed two first aid stations and provided roving medical and logistics support.  The team is set to do it again on October 20th in Olney for their Oktoberfest which will be our first time there. Our Outreach team has been busy with multiple events ranging from the first annual Montgomery College Rockville Campus Safety Fair to the Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival. CERT volunteers also provided support for a very rainy Olney Oktoberfest. So, all in all it’s a happening time for Montgomery County CERT. This program is only as strong as our volunteers, so please keep an eye on additional opportunities to help out. Have a safe and happy Halloween! Kentlands Oktoberfest CERT Volunteers Pictured from Left to Right- Front Row: Caterina Carioti, Amy Deane, Theresa Gilcrist. Back Row: Toly Yarup, David Schwartzman, Carl Brill

As you may know, September is preparedness month. There are so many different ways we can be prepared that I have been wondering where to begin. Then I learned something new: we can be prepared simply by getting enough sleep. Montgomery County CERT was privileged to host a presentation at our September General meeting by Jennifer Pearce and Ryan Smith on the tragic outcomes of Drowsy Driving. As CERTs we sometimes push ourselves for the greater good. We push ourselves to help others. But pushing too much with too little rest can result in breaking the cardinal rule of CERT: DON’T BRING ANOTHER VICTIM TO THE SCENE. Be sure to get enough rest and know when to take a break and rehab yourself. Our thanks to Jennifer and Ryan for sharing a deeply personal story of pain and loss. This fall has been, and is, very busy for Montgomery County CERT. We have three CERT basic Classes from August to December, multiple CPR classes, a Hemorrhage Control class, multiple Go Team Deployments, and ongoing work designing future CERT programs and capabilities. Please visit the CERT Training page to sign up for classes (CERT Basic #2019-04 is now open). Lastly, please send good thoughts to several of our members who are working through some significant health issues this fall. We wish them all a speedy recovery. For Preparedness Month, here is a link to the current FEMA newsletter: FEMA Newsletter- September 2019 Jennifer Pearce: The Worst Day of My Life Greg St. JamesCommunity Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.)Program ManagerMontgomery County Fire and Rescue Service100 Edison Park DriveGaithersburg, MD 20878240-777-2407

Happy Dog Days of August! Our Dog Cooper wanted me to use this time to remind you all of several important events:  Cooper St. James CONGRATS to CERT Basic 19-02 who graduated 26 brand new CERTS on August 10! Great job by our students and instructors.  CERT Basic 2019-02 CERT Basic 19-03 is open and filling fast. This class begins August 21, and is the Wednesday / Saturday schedule.  Use the link under training to apply for a spot. http://montgomerycert.org/training/cert-training/ A fantastic Hemorrhage Control class is being offered by CERT over the long Labor day weekend on August 31. This is a wonderful opportunity to improve your CERT first aid skills . Use the link on the main page to sign up. http://montgomerycert.org/hemorrhage-control-training/ The Go Team is busy with plans to assist again this years Labor Day Parade in Gaithersburg and details can be found in CERVIS. https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0120&console_type=event_list&res_code=zwgaNG&ht=1 CERTs are attending a Frederick Keys game this month as our August social activity,  and we will share pictures on our Facebook page.  There will be a Friends and Family CPR/AED class open to all on Wednesday. September 25, 2019 at PSHQ. Details and registration via the main page. http://montgomerycert.org/training/friends-family-cpr-aed/ Lastly, Cooper reminds you DO NOT LEAVE PETS IN THE CAR, stay hydrated, and he is a VERY GOOD BOY!!! Good Boy, Cooper! 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

Everyone should be prepared and up to date with life-saving skills like CPR and AED usage. Montgomery County CERT offers free CPR/AED classes taught by ASHI professional instructors as a service to our team, our family and friends, and to our community. Like the CERT class, our public CPR /AED class is open to all residents of the county who are at least 18 years of age. Exceptions are made for people who work within Montgomery County boundaries. All training classes are sponsored by Montgomery CERT are at no cost to the participant other than the participant’s commitment and desire to learn. Register For the Next Friends & Family CPR Class! Registration is now closed. Please check our website for future Friends & Family CPR classes.

So.. July 4th is here again, landing with a Crack and Boom, and a Splash in the midst of a very busy month for Montgomery County CERT. Our Go Team is rocking the 4th with multiple deployments this month in support of firework displays and a twilight run. CERT Basic 19-02 kicks off on July 10 with a full class registered of future CERTS, our revitalized CPR Team introduces some brand new manikins on July 12 with a Friends and family class, and our new boss- Division Chief Mike Kelly will come to meet the troops at our general meeting on the 11th. All that and more as our CERT summer rolls into full swing. We wish you safe travels, happy gatherings and lazy days in the sunshine this July; and I encourage you to stay involved or get involved in a CERT activity this summer.  Gaithersburg Summerfest Fireworks- Bohrer Park- June 29th, 2019 Greg St. JamesCommunity Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) Program Manager Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service100 Edison Park Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20878 240-777-2407