Red Cross Offers Disaster Training Classes In Sidney

The Red Cross will offer four courses during the month of June for those interested in taking disaster education classes. The first course, scheduled for Thursday, June 21 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the DES office in Sidney, will provide an overview of disaster services. The class will include a history of the Red Cross and the programs and services the organization provides for persons affected by disasters. This course is considered one of the building blocks to Red Cross disaster training, so people who have not taken this course are urged to do so.

The remaining three courses offered by the Red Cross, a Disaster Training Institute, will take place on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30 at the Assembly of God Church, on Main Street in Sidney. The three courses will include psychological first aid, shelter simulation, and client casework.

The psychological first aid class runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday evening, June 29. This class provides a framework for understanding the factors that affect stress response in disaster relief workers and the clients they serve. This course qualifies for .4 CEU credit under the International Association for Continuing Education and Training guidelines.

The shelter simulation class runs from 9 p.m. on Friday evening until 9 a.m. Saturday morning. This class provides an opportunity for participants to apply the knowledge and skills required to operate a successful shelter. Due to the housing challenges in Sidney, the shelter simulation course will be turned into a real shelter, because all students will stay at the shelter. This not only provides great hands on experience, but it provides insight on sheltering from the client’s perspective.

The final course of the institute will cover client casework, and will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 30. This course aids participants in acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct interviews and provide emergency disaster assistance to help meet clients’ immediate disaster-caused needs.

For further information on these classes, contact Carrell Evans, Richland County Disaster Assistance Team member at 406-488-8806 or by email at [email protected].