GAF sponsors first all-Korean Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training in Leisure World

The Golden Age Foundation (GAF) sponsored first the Koreans- teaching-Koreans Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Twelve Korean-American students signed up for the first all-Korean speaking CERT training. In this 20-24hour course, students had the opportunity to learn disaster survival skills like triage, light search and rescue, fire suppression, medical operations, and team building.

The Leisure World Korean community needs to be aware of the natural and man-made disasters that could impact the Leisure World community, which is surrounded by bridges, an ocean, power generating stations, the Naval base, freeways and fault lines.

In a large-magnitude disaster, volunteers will be needed to help their communities, as it is likely there will be a limited number of first responders who may not be able to provide immediate assistance due to overwhelming need. By taking the CERT class, LWers can learn to be prepared and ready to respond to emer- gencies and help the community. The GAF sponsored the CERT equipment used by students to perform hands-on activities. Special thanks goes to the interpreters, at the event.

The inaugural Korean CERT training class learned basic disaster-response skills.

Michael Oh