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 Community
Emergency
Response Team (CERT)
About CERT...
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, using the model created by the
Los Angeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide use of the
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since then, CERTs
have been established in hundreds of communities
CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and
the people that they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train
members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic
response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency
response capability for their area.
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"We will find
ways to train and mobilize more volunteers to help when
rescue and health emergencies arise."
President George W. Bush |
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If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community's professional
response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and
organizational skills that they learned during training. These skills can
help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives. CERT
skills also apply to daily emergencies.
CERT members maintain and refine their skills by participating in
exercises and activities. They can attend supplemental training
opportunities offered by the sponsoring agency and others that further their
skills base. Finally, CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve
community emergency preparedness.
CERT Training will teach participants to:
- Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their
homes and communities.
- Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate
response.
- Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.
- Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes
and workplaces.
- Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies,
resources, and safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid.
- Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding,
and treating shock.
- Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
- Perform head-to-toes assessments.
- Select and set up a treatment area.
- Employ basic treatments for various wounds.
- Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential
search and rescue situations.
- Describe the most common techniques for searching a
structure.
- Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim
extrication.
- Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue.
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Target Audience
- Neighborhoods
- Businesses
- Communities of Faith
- Scouting Organizations
- School Staff / Students
- Clubs / Organizations
- Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Training is designed to cover the following:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Fire Safety
- Disaster Medical Operations -- Triage and Treating Life
Threatening Injuries
- Disaster Medical Operations -- Assessment, Treatment, and
Hygiene
- Light Search and Rescue
- Team Organization
- Disaster Psychology
- Terrorism and CERT
- Final Exercise
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* Sessions require about
20 hours to complete. *
* For more information about education and
training opportunities, contact your local Fire Department. * |
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