When disaster strikes, the immediate actions of bystanders, eyewitnesses and neighbors can make the difference between life and death — if they know what to do.

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services will set out to properly equip members of the community for such an emergency through its new four-week Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course beginning April 9 for free at the Chester County Public Safety Training Campus in South Coatesville.

“Because emergency services personnel are not always able to attend to everyone immediately during a disaster, trained citizens can make a big difference by using CERT skills to help save lives and protect property,” Director of Emergency Services Robert Kagel said in a press release.

The class will touch on disaster preparedness and delve into teaching key disaster response skills like fire safety, basic medical care and how to help yourself and your neighbors during an emergency.

Once trained, CERT members are also encouraged to support and volunteer with their local emergency response agencies and to take a more active role in emergency preparedness in their community.

Register for free by March 31 here or by calling 610-344-5540.

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Top photo credit: DISA conducts emergency-response exercise via photopin (license)