CERT Overview
Introduction
Following
a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and
medical services will not be able to meet the demand for
these services. Factors as number of victims,
communication failures, and road blockages will prevent
people from accessing emergency services they have come
to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will
have to rely on each other for help in order to meet
their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.
One also expects that under these kinds of conditions,
family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will
spontaneously try to help each other.
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.
Background
The Community Emergency Response Team concept was
developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire
Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows
earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a
major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the
need for training civilians to meet their immediate
needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster
Preparedness Division with the purpose of training
citizens and private and government employees.
The training program that LAFD initiated makes good
sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding
their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also
increases their ability to safely help themselves, their
family and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of
preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute
(EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded
the CERT materials believing them applicable to all
hazards.
The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes
it. This individual will be better prepared to respond
to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster.
Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its
response capability after a disaster, civilians can be
recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and
government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary
responders. These groups can provide immediate
assistance to victims in their area, organize
spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training,
and collect disaster intelligence that will assist
professional responders with prioritization and
allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993
when this training was made available nationally by FEMA,
communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted
CERT training.
Delivery
The CERT course is delivered in the community by a
team of first responders who have the requisite
knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions.
The CERT training for community groups is usually
delivered in 2 1/2 hour sessions, one evening a week
over a 7 week period. The training consists of the
following:
- Session I, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Addresses
hazards to which people are vulnerable in their
community. Materials cover actions that participants
and their families take before, during, and after a
disaster. As the session progresses, the instructor
begins to explore an expanded response role for
civilians in that they should begin to consider
themselves disaster workers. Since they will want to
help their family members and neighbors, this training
can help them operate in a safe and appropriate
manner. The CERT concept and organization are
discussed as well as applicable laws governing
volunteers in that jurisdiction.
- Session II, DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION: Briefly
covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire
hazards, and fire suppression strategies. However, the
thrust of this session is the safe use of fire
extinguishers, sizing up the situation, controlling
utilities, and extinguishing a small fire.
- Session III, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I:
Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway
obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple
triage and rapid treatment techniques.
- Session IV, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II:
Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe
assessment, establishing a medical treatment area,
performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe
and sanitary manner.
- Session V, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS:
Participants learn about search and rescue planning,
size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and
most important, rescuer safety.
- Session VI, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM
ORGANIZATION: Covers signs and symptoms that might be
experienced by the disaster victim and worker. It
addresses CERT organization and management principles
and the need for documentation.
- Session VII, COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER
SIMULATION: Participants review their answers from a
take home examination. Finally, they practice the
skills that they have learned during the previous six
sessions in disaster activity.
During each session participants are required to
bring safety equipment (gloves, goggles, mask) and
disaster supplies (bandages, flashlight, dressings)
which will be used during the session. By doing this for
each session, participants are building a disaster
response kit of items that they will need during a
disaster.
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Conclusion
CERT is about readiness, people helping people,
rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the
greatest number. 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 by opening airways, controlling
bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical
aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize
themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.
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last update:
06/24/04
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