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 the neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area.
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 othres 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-toe 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.
Target Audience for CERT Training
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
Sessions require about 20 hours to complete.
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