Herald staff
EDMONDS — The Emergency Services Coordinating Agency is offering residents disaster response training to help them survive and assist neighbors after a major disaster such as an earthquake.
The training gives participants the skills needed to pitch in when disaster strikes, program manager Chandra Fox said. The training includes minor fire suppression techniques, disaster medical treatment, and urban search and rescue.
The training will begin July 11 and continue over the following seven Thursdays, with graduation Aug. 29. Each session runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Most classes will meet at the Emergency Operations Center, 23607 Highway 99, Suite 3C, in Edmonds.
"We have entered an unprecedented time in our nation’s history, and our renewed focus on community involvement has been heartening," Fox said.
The program is a crucial part of President Bush’s plan for the Citizen Corps branch of the newly created USA Freedom Corps, which encourages citizens to be more active in preparing for and responding to disasters, she said.
The Emergency Services Coordinating Agency was formed by the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace and the town of Woodway. It began the disaster training program about six years ago in Lynnwood. About 500 people have been trained.
The training is free, but participants are asked to invest about $30 in their own safety equipment.
Registration is required. Call Fox at 425-776-3722 for information or registration.
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