COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

What is CERT?

The Department of Emergency Management in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, using the model created by the Los Angeles Fire Department, began promoting the use of the Community Emergency Response Team concept in 1995 on the island of Oahu. Since then CERTs have been established in communities both here in Hawai'i and in the continental United States.

CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve. The goal is for the emergency services personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for that area.

When a disaster overwhelms or delays the community's professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response 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 further their skills base. Finally, CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve community emergency preparedness.

CERT training is customizable, open to anyone and is provided FREE of charge by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

What will you learn in CERT Training?

1.                  Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.

2.                  Describe the functions of CERTs and their roles in immediate response.

3.                  Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.

4.                  Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in and around their homes and workplaces.

5.                  Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish burning materials.

6.                  Apply techniques for opening airways, treating wounds, controlling bleeding, and treating shock.

7.                  Conduct triages under simulated conditions.

8.                  Perform head-to-toe assessments.

9.                  Select and set up a treatment area.

10.             Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.

11.             Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.

12.             Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extraction.

13.             Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue.

What topics are covered in the CERT Training?

·        Disaster Preparedness

·        Emergency Management/Incident Command Structure

·        Fire Safety

·        Disaster Medical Operations: Triage, Treating Both Life-Threatening and Non-Life-Threatening Injuries, Injury Assessment, and Hygiene

·        Light Search and Rescue

·        Team Organization

·        Disaster Psychology

·        Terrorism and CERT

·        Final Exercise

Entire course encompasses a total of 20 hours of total classroom and exercise time.

Who can take CERT Training?

·        Neighborhood Associations

·        Businesses

·        Communities of Faith

·        Scouting Organizations

·        School

·        Clubs/Organizations

·        Amateur Radio Operator.

CERT Training is available to all individuals over the age of 18.  Individuals between the ages of 16 to 18 may participate with a signed parental consent form.  

For more information please contact Mr. Jeff Spencer at 723-8960 or via email at jspencer1@honolulu.gov