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Community Emergency Response Team - CERT

About

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 reponse skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency reponse 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 reponse 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 futher their skills base. Finally, CERT members can volunteer for project that improve community emergency preparedness.

CERT Training will teach participants to:

  1. Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
  2. Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate response.
  3. Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.
  4. Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
  5. Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources and safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid.
  6. Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding and treating shock.
  7. Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
  8. Perform head-to-toe assessments.
  9. Select and set up a treatment area.
  10. Employ basic treatments for various wounds.
  11. Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
  12. Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
  13. Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
  14. Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue.

Next Available CERT Training Dates:

February 2011- 8th, 10th, 15th, 17th, 22nd, and 24th (Tuesday and Thursday) from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Saturday Feb. 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Skills challenges will be conducted.

Those wishing to sign up should contact Frank Patterson or Steve Vaughn at the Waco/McLennan County Office of Emergency Management. Phone number 254-750-5911.

Sessions require approximately 20 hours to complete. For more information, contact Frank Patterson at (254) 750-5911.

Waco Fire Department>>