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DENTON – The Caroline County Health Department is preparing to host its first ever Citizen Preparedness Training course. The program will have ten classes over ten weeks, each focused on key topics like personal awareness and de-escalation, severe weather and emergency communications, and life-saving skills and disaster medical support.
“This course is geared to increase the participants' knowledge of and confidence to handle common and some not so common emergencies that they may face,” said Caroline County’s Deputy Health Officer Kristin Dietz. She added that the program will provide participants with the “knowledge and tools to handle situations until Emergency Responders can arrive.” This knowledge includes skills such as “how to use fire extinguishers, CPR, AED, de-escalation techniques, narcan training, and what information to gather and rely to 911 when you call to report large scale emergencies,” Dietz said.
Each installment of the program combines emergency preparedness best practices from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Response Team training, the Maryland Responds Road to Readiness training, and general emergency response tips. Representatives from the Caroline County Health Department and Caroline County Emergency Services have come together to ensure the training is as helpful and localized as it can be. Information covered in the classes is backed by local nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and Law Enforcement, as well as other individuals involved with emergency preparedness and the National Weather Service.
Not only is the program chock-full of information, it is also completely free. The Health Department received a MRC–STTRONG grant from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, funded by the federal American Rescue Plan. This grant covers the cost of the classes as well as supplies and take-home kits – all you have to bring are comfortable clothes, water, and your own snacks.
Anyone over the age of 18 can participate in the program. Dietz said that it is a “great way to learn preparedness tips to keep yourself, family and friends safe during an emergency or unforeseen event.” And those who attend all ten classes will receive a personal emergency preparedness “GO-bag” at the conclusion of the course.
