Brookline residents can sign up for a five-session emergency response training program that begins Sunday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m., the Brookline Police Department announced.

The Brookline Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will hold its Basic CERT Training on five consecutive Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Oct. 18, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15. The program, run through the Brookline Police Department, teaches volunteers hands-on disaster response skills they can use in their own neighborhoods.

The department posted the announcement on its X account on Monday, Oct. 12, directing residents to an online application form.

Training covers CPR and AED use, first aid, basic fire suppression, personal emergency preparedness, mass care, shelter operations, directing traffic and search and rescue, according to the department's CERT page. Some portions may be physically demanding. Operating a fire extinguisher is one example the department cites.

Brookline has more than 265 certified CERT members, according to the department's CERT page. The program is part of FEMA's national Community Emergency Response Team initiative, which has trained more than 600,000 volunteers across more than 3,200 local programs since 1993.

Brookline CERT volunteers have responded to real emergencies. The team managed a shelter for stranded runners after the Boston Marathon bombing, opened shelters during building fires and assisted families across Massachusetts after hurricanes and blizzards.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CERT members supported the town's food pantry, staffed vaccination and testing clinics, helped run elections and assisted at Brookline High School graduations.

Beyond the initial certification, CERT offers continuing education throughout the year in partnership with the Brookline Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). Topics have included amateur radio operations, emergency stress management and operating flu clinics.

One note for applicants: the department's CERT webpage lists an application deadline of Oct. 4, but the Oct. 12 post still directs residents to apply. Anyone interested should contact the program at [email protected] or call the Brookline Police Department at (617) 730-2244 to confirm whether applications are still being accepted.

No training location has been announced publicly.