ARLINGTON — When disaster strikes, will you be prepared to help others?

People need skills to act quickly and effectively in emergencies, and fire departments in Arlington, Lake Stevens and Marysville have teamed up to hold a class that teaches those skills.

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team.

During this seven-week training, students will learn to use fire extinguishers and fire hoses, administer first aid and select leaders, said Arlington community emergency manager Chris Badger, who is teaching the class.

“You become more effective in the way you help your neighbors,” she said. “It’s a positive experience.”

The first session was scheduled for last Friday. The last session will be a drill, where students will get to practice what they’ve learned.

The class is intensive, but people of all physical abilities are welcome, Badger said. “There really is a place for just about everybody.”

Badger has taught CERT classes for different agencies in the county since 1997.

The youngest students are in their teens; the oldest student is 70-something, Badger said.

In case of emergency, some people need to stay behind to keep track of the teams, coordinate and talk on the radio, Badger said. Wheelchair users and hearing- and sight-impaired people have successfully completed CERT classes.

During a disaster, emergency workers have to focus on highly populated areas and hospitals, Badger said. People in individual neighborhoods need to be prepared to help each other.

“(The key) is to be able to look at the big picture,” Badger said. “People have to be able to multitask: not only assist but keep an eye on their surroundings.”

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.