About the training and service

The basic CERT training program is a 20-hour course. CERT personnel will train you to prepare for a disaster or overwhelming event by:

• Identifying and mitigating potential hazards in the home and workplace.
• Initiating plans to prepare you and your loved ones for the hazards you face.
• Learning skills to help you and others until professional response resources arrive.
• Participating in continuing education and training.
• Volunteering for projects to enhance the public safety of your communities.
• Understanding your capabilities and limitations when deployed.
  
  

What you will learn during training

• Prepare for the hazards that threaten your communities.
• Apply size-up and safety principles.
• Locate and turn off utilities.
• Extinguish small fires.
• Identify hazardous materials situations.
• Triage and treat victims.
• Set up a medical treatment area.
• Conduct searches and rescues in lightly and moderately damaged structures.
• Understand the psychological impact of a disaster on yourself and others.
• Organize CERT members and spontaneous volunteers for an effective and safe response.
• Apply response skills in a disaster simulation.

CERT Role During Emergencies

When a disaster or overwhelming event occurs and responders are not immediately available, CERTs can assist by:

• Conducting an initial size-up in their homes or workplaces.
• Reducing immediate dangers by turning off utilities, suppressing small fires, evacuating the area, and helping others.
• Treating people in the immediate area.
• Working with CERT members and volunteers to establish a command post, staging area, and medical triage and treatment areas.
• Collecting damage information and developing a plan of operation based on life-saving priorities and available resources.
• Applying their training to situations where CERT members can make a difference.
• Establishing and maintaining communication with responders.

CERT Frequently Asked Questions