Taking training is a good way to get involved in your community and prepare yourself for an emergency. Training can take many forms, depending on your interests and in the resources of your community. Here are a few suggestions:

· Fire Extinguisher Training – Knowing how to use a fire extinguisher may make the difference between a mere threatening situation and a disaster. Contact the Sidney Fire Department for more information.

· First Aid and CPR Training – First aid training is a good thing to take for many reasons. Basic first aid courses are as short as four hours and arm you with life saving skills. Training is available in Sidney from a number of organizations.

· Search and Rescue Training – The Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization (PEMO) can arrange for search and rescue training when you volunteer with PEMO.

· Emergency Operations Centre Training – You could also receive training that allows you to work in the Town’s Emergency Operations Centre during a prolonged emergency. There are often heavy demands for mapping expertise, office and secretarial skills, and logistics personnel. Let the Sidney Emergency Program Coordinator know you are interested in volunteering when needed.

· Rapid Damage Assessment Training – For facility managers, a valuable course in assessing buildings for safety after disasters such as earthquakes is the Rapid Damage Assessment Training, available from BC Housing. For information, go to: www.bchousing.org/aboutus/RDA