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CERT GOALS
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program helps
train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their
communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to
first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize
spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with
non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.
The CERT course is taught in the community by a trained team
of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course
coordinated by their local emergency management agency. CERT training includes
disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical
operations, and light search and rescue operations.
The CERT program is about readiness, people helping people,
rescuer safety, and doing the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of
people. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster
situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can
make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out
small fires; treat the three killers which are opening airways, controlling
bleeding, and treating for shock, and provide basic medical aid; search for and
rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be
effective.
CERT GOALS
The CERT Program is part of Citizen Corps, whose purpose is
to educate community members about natural hazards and the potential of
terrorism events that could strike them. Community members are considered to be
part of the response capability for their neighborhood or workplace. They
participate in 20 hours of basic training and continue their involvement by
attending supplemental training, participating in exercises, and volunteering
for emergency management projects to better prepare their community for hazards.
Participants learn basic response skills that they can apply after a natural
disaster when professional response resources are overwhelmed or delayed.
Modules include Disaster Preparedness; Fire Suppression; Disaster Medical
Operations Part I and II, Light Search and Rescue; Disaster Psychology; Team
Organization; and Disaster Simulation. An orientation module on terrorism and
weapons of mass destruction is being added. CERT members are encouraged to train
and exercise as teams within their neighborhood or workplace.
Educate community members about natural/man-made hazards including terrorism
that may strike their community.
Organize neighborhood and workplace response teams to respond to immediate needs
following an event when professional response resources are delayed or
overwhelmed.
Train teams in basic response and decision-making skills that can be used to
protect themselves and to help others.
Educate community members about natural/man-made hazards including
terrorism that may strike their community
Organize neighborhood and workplace response teams to respond to
immediate needs following an event when professional response resources are
delayed or overwhelmed.
Train teams in basic response and decision-making skills
that can be used to protect themselves and to help others.
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