Edwin L. "Bo" Wriston, Director
Wirt County Office of Emergency Services
Elizabeth, W.Va. - Wirt County Office of Emergency Services (OES) will be offering numerous public safety classes in the upcoming months, including five classes in June.
"One goal of Wirt County OES is to provide educational opportunities to the community to help citizens prepare for disasters. In addition to our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings, we are beginning a series of classes addressing many different aspects of preparedness, following FEMA's 'Whole Community' approach towards public safety", stated Wirt County OES Director Edwin "Bo" Wriston. "These classes are provided either free of charge, or at little cost for classes that provide certifications, and are open to anyone who would like to attend."
Classes and dates include:
June 18 CPR/AED Class: This class will be led by West Virginia Medical Coordination Center WESTCOM Paramedic Don Williams and will teach to American Heart Association (AHA) standards. Participants will learn adult, pediatric and infant CPR and choking/Heimlich maneuver, as well as learn how to operate an Automatic External Deliberator (AED). Class size is limited. Pre-registration required. Cost is $20.00 for a two-year AHA certification card. Class time is 6:30PM to 8:30PM at the Elizabeth/Wirt VFD.
June 19 Basic First Aid Class: This class will also be led by Paramedic Don Williams, and will teach participants how to respond to common first aid emergencies, including burns, cuts, head, neck and back injuries and more. Class size is limited. Pre-registration required. Cost is $20.00 for a two-year AHA certification card. (Note: a combined certification card for students attending both CPR/AED and Basic First Aid is available for $30.00.) Class Time is 6:30PM to 9:00PM at the Elizabeth/Wirt VFD.
June 25 Financial First Aid: This class will teach participants how to prepare themselves financially for potential disasters, and how to recover after an event. Wirt County OES along with Wesbanco, State Farm Insurance, and Brookover & Associates, Inc. will be instructing the class. Participants will leave with a copy of the Operation Hope-produced Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK). Class size is unlimited and pre-registration is not required. There is no cost. Class time is 6:30PM to 8:30PM at the Wirt County Courthouse.
June 26 National Weather Service Weather Spotter Class: This class will teach participants how local weather forecasting in West Virginia is compiled, what services the National Weather Service (NWS) offers to citizens and local responders, and why weather alerts and vigilance is so important. Participants will also learn how to identify different types of weather patterns, clouds, etc. and how to properly report data to the NWS. Wirt County OES and NWS Charleston will be instructing the class. Class size is unlimited and pre-registration is not required. There is no cost. Class time is 6:30PM to 9:00PM at the Wirt County Courthouse.
June 28-29 Project Lifesaver Class: This class is for local law enforcement and first responders who operate and manage the Project Lifesaver program in Wirt County. Project Lifesaver provides radio transmitters for citizens with cognitive challenges such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, Autism, etc. that tend to or have the potential to wander. The class will teach how to operate Project Lifesaver tracking equipment, including a hands-on exercise locating transmitter beacons around Wirt County. Class size is limited. There is no cost for a two-year certification. Class times and location available upon pre-registration.
July 30 Pets & Livestock in Disasters: This class will teach participants how to prepare their pets and livestock for potential disasters, and how to recover after such an event. Wirt County OES along with WVU Extension will instruct. Class size is unlimited and pre-registration is not required. There is no cost. Class time is 6:30PM to 8:30PM at the Wirt County Courthouse.
August 22 Special Needs Populations in Disasters: This class will teach participants how to prepare for the needs of special populations during potential disasters, and how to recover after such an event. Special Needs Populations includes those with home medical needs such as insulin, home oxygen machines, etc., those with cognitive challenges, those with physical limitations such as blindness, deafness, or other mobility or communication impairments. Wirt County OES, the ARC, and Westbrook will be instructing the class. Class size is unlimited and pre-registration is not required. There is no cost. Class time is 6:30PM to 9:00PM at the Wirt County Courthouse.
For further information on any public safety class offered above and to register for those classes requiring pre-registration, contact Wirt County Office of Emergency Services Director Bo Wriston at 304-629-3735, or via email at wirtcooes@gmail.com
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