TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA/Press Release) - At least nine employees of Tupelo's Parks and Recreation Department are now training to help first responders in the event of an emergency.

It's called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and these employees now belong to the city's team. Other city employees will join in the future, the city says.

Firefighter Kristian Skou, a nationally certified CERT trainer, put the Parks and Recreation
Department through thee paces Thursday at Fire Station No. 3, explaining the different
classes of fire and how to use a fire extinguisher.

The nine all extinguished a live fire using proper techniques.

The other portion of the class included basic first aid training. This session, also taught by
Skou, included triage, bandaging and splinting.

These particular employees will staff the city’s two large, domed storm shelters in Lee Acres
and at Theron Nichols Park during severe weather.

CERT training is consistent nationwide so professional responders can depend on them during hazardous situations. This frees up
those professional responders to tend to more difficult, complex tasks.

“This was excellent training,” said Alex Farned, director of the Parks and Recreation
Department. “The Fire Department did a great job, and it will be very beneficial as we man
these shelters during severe weather.”