CERT Links
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 are certified
instructors and have extensive experience in disaster response and
mitigation.
The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City
Fire Department in 1985. FEMA made this training available nationally in
1993. Since this time, CERT programs have been established in more than 340
communities in 45 states. The CERT training program is a 20-hour course.
Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression,
basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, and team
operations. The training also includes a disaster simulation in which
participants practice skills that they learned throughout the course.
CERT is a vital component of Citizen Corps, President
Bush's community-based initiative to engage citizens in homeland security
and community and family preparedness through public education and outreach,
training opportunities, and volunteer service.
Contact your local St. Louis County Police precinct for more
information on the next CERT class in your area.
FEMA ON-LINE COURSE TO HELP COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS GET - AND
STAY - TRAINED
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) is unveiling today an on-line, independent study
course that can serve as either an introduction to those joining Community
Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) or as a refresher to current volunteer team
members. "While nothing can replace the in-person training local
jurisdictions offer to CERT volunteers, this independent course augments
their education and serves to reinforce the knowledge they’ve gained,"" said
Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency
Preparedness and Response. ""This new independent study course underscores
the importance that FEMA places on CERT and its importance to communities
across the nation.""CERT members work with a community’s emergency
management officials to provide assistance in a disaster by helping victims,
organizing spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site and supporting
emergency responders. Specialists at FEMA’’s Emergency Management Institute
developed the course, which is part of the institute’s extensive independent
study program. The course, Introduction to Community Emergency Response
Teams, IS 317, has six modules with topics that include an introduction to
CERT, fire safety, hazardous material and terrorist incidents, disaster
medical operations, and search and rescue. It takes between six and eight
hours to complete the course; those successfully finishing it receive a
certification ofc ompletion. The course is located at: www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is317.asp
The course can be taken by anyone interested in CERT, but only those who
are actual CERT volunteers can take the in-person training FEMA offers.
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