Alaska News

Kenai Peninsula Borough to offer community emergency training

KENAI — Kenai Peninsula Borough officials have announced plans to offer a volunteer training schedule for people who want to assist the community in a natural disaster or other emergency.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is planning to host the free seven-day training starting Dec. 2, the Peninsula Clarion reported Thursday.

“Any time there’s a disaster, people want to help,” Emergency Management Office program manager Jade Gamble said. “This training gives people the skills to help safely and effectively without feeling like they’re getting in the way of other emergency responders.”

The Office of Emergency Management would conduct the 28-hour Community Emergency Response Team program covering topics including fire suppression, search and rescue, medical treatment and team organization, borough officials said.

Attendance is required at all seven sessions held at the Donald E. Gilman River Center and make-up days would be offered if needed, officials said.

Training is scheduled Monday, Dec. 2 and every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, officials said. The last training day is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14.

Weekday trainings are set from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and weekend trainings are set to begin at 9 a.m. and go until 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., officials said.

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Volunteers would receive a backpack filled with response equipment and would be able to volunteer as an emergency citizen responder upon completion, officials said.

The borough started training volunteers in 2004 and has since trained around 600 people, Gamble said. Several trainings are conducted every year in different areas, including Homer, Seward and Cooper Landing, he said.

For more information about signup, residents are encouraged to visit the borough website, borough officials said.

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