Cities Gear up for Emergencies, Big Crowds

Cache Outfitters teams with Village of Palatine to host 4th annual CERT Challenge

(PRWEB) April 11, 2008 -- For some businesses, sponsoring community events is just another way to get a logo on a T-shirt. For the team at Cache Outfitters, co-sponsors of the Village of Palatine's CERT Challenge 2008, it can be a matter of life and death.

"We like to see our products in action," said Mike Koestner, founder of Cache Outfitters. The company produces emergency response gear that includes everything from emergency survival kits to flashlights to weather alert radios, and Koestner said events like CERT Challenge give them the chance to respond to the needs of the first-responders. "It's great to really get a feel for how everything is really used on the ground with volunteers in life-like situations."

It gives us the chance to take a good look at what happens in emergency situations and even make improvements to our product line

CERT Challenge 2008 is a day-long exercise that allows community emergency response teams from Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Evanston and Lake in the Hills to showcase their skills and test their readiness for disasters. This year's challenge is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, and rain or shine, teams will be tested in events including search and rescue, emergency communications and medical triage to name a few. Community members are encouraged to show up, cheer on their teams, and learn more about emergency preparedness.

Cache Outfitters won't just be supplying the door prizes for this year's festivities, the largely Internet-based company will be using it to gain first-hand experience with emergency volunteers. "It gives us the chance to take a good look at what happens in emergency situations and even make improvements to our product line," said Koestner.

The community emergency response teams, or CERTs, that will participate at this year's challenge were formed in response to the President's call for volunteerism in 2002. Composed of volunteers trained to be first-responders in the event of a disaster, CERTs spring into action when major disasters strike. Because they're made up of local volunteers, CERTs often offer aid to victims when fire and police forces are delayed from a scene and when disasters are so big they overwhelm emergency professionals.

Koestner said Cache Outfitters is co-sponsoring CERT Challenge 2008 because it seemed like a fun event and a noble cause. All day long the company will be providing CERT kits, gift certificates and other emergency preparedness products to participants. "Emergency response teams are a great asset to our communities," he said. "We wanted to thank them for all they do."

CERT Challenge 2008 will be held Saturday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Palatine Park District Building and Grounds, 250 E. Wood St., Palatine.

For more information on CERT Challenge 2008, visit www.palatine-ema.org. For more information on CERT and home emergency preparedness products, visit www.cacheoutfitters.com.

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