If faced with a disaster like the San Bruno explosion and fire would you know what to do? In an effort to address this concern, The San Francisco Disaster Preparedness Coalition for Animals (SFDPCA) is offering a series of training dates for community members. The classes are free and the first will be held this Saturday, September 25th from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at Hamm’s Building (1550 Bryant Street). Geared specifically towards those concerned with animal welfare, the classes will train people to be Volunteer Animal Disaster Service Workers.
The series of workshops and classes will teach participants how to help themselves and then be able to assist others. Participants will learn how to prepare themselves and their family, including their pets, for potential disasters through specialized NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) training.
After taking the first class, there will be an opportunity for participants to go on to take a four session DART (Disaster Animal Response Training) course that will lead to certification as an Animal Disaster Service Worker. Pet First Aid certification is included as well.
The educational series aims to address the importance of animal issues in emergency management. The animal welfare groups involved are: San Francisco Animal Care & Control; The San Francisco SPCA; Pets Unlimited; PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support); Vet SOS (Vet Street Outreach Services); and the San Francisco Veterinary Medical Association.
To sign up for the first class please visit www.sf-fire.org or call 415-970-2024.
