Tuesday we learned of yet another group of citizens in Chilton County that participated in a Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) course to learn what to do in a time of emergency.

Seventeen members of the Church of God’s Word took the 20-hour course, which teaches people how to locate and treat victims of disasters until emergency personnel can arrive on the scene.

The training culminates with a disaster drill in which actors portray injured victims, usually in and around a building. The trainees must learn how to properly handle all aspects of the situation.

We applaud these volunteers for their willingness to serve their community. We never know what kind of an impact this training will have.

Disaster could strike at anywhere, at any time. No one is immune. Wouldn’t it be comforting to know that the people around you knew what to do in case you were injured and in need of assistance? In these cases, time is of the essence. That little bit of training could sustain and ultimately save someone’s life in the period of time between when emergency responders are dispatched and when they can get to the victims.

We encourage all community groups to consider forming a CERT team.