Basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

*This is a three day event. Participants must attend all three sessions to graduate. Please see course agenda for dates and times below*

Any adult in good health and with a sense of community can become a part of CERT. If you become a CERT member, you will learn about important life-safety support techniques. You will, however, not be expected to place yourself in dangerous situations, either in the training or when a disaster strikes.

Before, during, and after disasters, CERT volunteer teams perform basic response activities, including checking in on neighbors, distributing information to the public, supporting emergency operations centers, and helping to manage traffic and crowds. The Norwalk CERT programs trains and organizes volunteers to assist their families, neighbors, co-workers, and other community members.

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Describe the functions of CERT, discuss your role as a CERT volunteer, and explain how CERT fits into your community’s emergency preparedness structure, 2) Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect your communities and their potential impact on people, health, and infrastructure, 3) Prepare yourself and your family for potential disasters your community may face, including learning to create a family disaster plan and emergency preparedness kit

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Describe the CERT organizational structure 2) Explain the Incident Command System (ICS) and how CERT operates within this structure, 3) Describe the 9-step one-scene size-up process, 4) Describe how to use CERT standard documents

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Identify life-threatening conditions resulting from trauma including severe bleeding, low body temperature, and airway blockage, 2) Apply correct life saving techniques 3) Provide basic first-aid care for non-life threatening injuries

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Explain the role of the CERT volunteer during a mass casualty incident, 2) Describe the functions of disaster medical operations, 3) Describe how to set up survivor treatment areas , 4) Perform head-to-toe patient assessments, 5) Take appropriate sanitation and hygiene measures to protect public health

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Understand disaster trauma for survivors and rescuers, including CERT volunteers , 2) List steps to take for personal and team well-being, 3) Demonstrate key steps to apply when providing aid to someone with survivor’s trauma

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Explain the role CERTs play in fire safety and response, including the CERT size-up process and minimum safety precautions, 2) Extinguish a small fire using a fire extinguisher, 3) Identify and reduce potential fire, utility, and hazardous materials hazards at home and in the community

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Identify and apply CERT size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations, 2) Demonstrate common techniques for light search and rescue, 3) Demonstrate safe techniques for debris removal and survivor extraction during search and rescue operations

Info: Unit Objectives: 1) Define terrorism, 2) List the eight signs of terrorism and describe how to report suspicious activity, 3) Explain the role of a CERT volunteer during a terrorist incident, 4) Describe activities to prepare for a terrorist incident at home, at work, and in the community

Info: Working as a team, you will participate in a disaster exercise and demonstrate mastery of CERT concepts.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher City of Norwalk Office of Emergency Management