Frequently Asked Questions

What is CERT?
The Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies occur, 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 Citizen. The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. FEMA made this training available nationally in 1993. Since this time, CERT programs have been established in more than 340 communities in 45 states. The CERT training program is a 20-hour course, typically delivered over a seven-week period. Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, and team operations. The training also includes a disaster simulation inwhich participants practice skills that they learned throughout the course. The CERT course is taught in the Citizen by a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA's Emergency Management Institute.

 

Why have a CERT program?
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is designed to prepare individuals to help themselves, their family and their neighbors in the event of a disaster with a focus on the first 72 hours. This is done by educating them on the hazards they face in their community and by training them in lifesaving skills they may need to use in the event of a catastrophic event. CERTs may also give critical support to first responders in emergencies by providing immediate assistance to victims, managing utilities and small fires, organizing spontaneous volunteers and by collecting disaster intelligence. This all hazards training prepares members of the community, neighborhoods and workplaces to take a more active role in emergency planning for their area and to prepare themselves and others for disasters and emergencies CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. 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. CERT involves learning basic skills that are critical in a disaster situation when emergency services are not readily available.

 

What does the training course include?
The CERT training consists of 20 hours of instruction over an ten week period. Classes are taught by CERT Trainers who have been through the classes themselves. The course includes the following:

• Disaster Preparedness. Introduction to disasters specific to the community, and the impact of disasters on infrastructure.
• Disaster Fire Suppression. Identifying and reducing potential fire hazards and basic fire suppression.
• Disaster Medical Operations Part 1. Treatment strategies for life-threatening conditions and principle of triage.
• Disaster Medical Operations Part 2. Head-to-toe patient assessment and treatment for various injuries.
• CPR / AED Training. The updated CPR procedures and AED use will be demonstrated. These classes are scheduled separately from the weekly CERT classes.
• Light Search and Rescue Operations. Techniques for sizing up and searching, lifting, cribbing and removing victims; rescue safety.
• CERT Organization. Identifying the CERT Organization and how CERT relates to the Incident Command System; Explain the importance of documentation.
• Disaster Psychology. The post disaster emotional environment will be discussed.
• Terrorism and CERT. A brief overview of terrorism weapons. Identifying targets in an area and discuss time/ distance/ shielding.
• Final Exercise. Disaster simulation realistic to your community. This will be a hands-on class participation exercise.

The course outline is subject to change. **Additional courses outside the basic CERT class are offered on future dates.

 

Is there an age limit?
The minimum age is 18. There is no maximum age. Keep in mind that the training can be strenuous and includes heavy lifting and carrying. There are light duty functions within CERT, such as Incident Command. Our Teen CERT program is open to young adults aged 13 - 17.

 

How much does the course cost me?
There is no charge to attend the class. However, the class size is limited to the first twenty-five (25) approved applicants, so sign up quickly.

 

How do I enroll?
Applications are available by download below, or may be obtained from the Library, City Hall, Police Department and various other locations throughout the City. More information about the Community Emergency Response Team can be obtained by contacting the Police Department at 770-487-8866 between 8:30am and 4:30pm.

 

When does the next class begin?
We usually have two Adult CERT classes per year and one or two Teen CERT classes. You can check our CERT News page for the dates of the next classes. Adult CERT Classes take place on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm until 9:00pm.

You can submit an application at any time. Visit our Download Page for the applications. (.pdf)