COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT) TRAINING PROGRam

Training Provided By Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Learn about the East 1488 CERT and how to join classes in the East 1488 Area

CERT is a training program that prepares you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a disaster. During an incident, emergency services personnel may not be able to reach everyone right away. By becoming trained in CERT, you will have the skills to help emergency responders save lives and protect property. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of their community.

CERT training is offered free of charge through the Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The CERT training course is approximately 20 hours and includes hands-on practice of CERT skills. Classes are held once a week for 8 weeks (2.5 – 3 hours per class). CERT training is offered to those 18 and older.

Instruction is provided by trained emergency personnel from your community, including: law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel.

Participants receive a training manual and CERT equipment backpack.

Course Syllabus

Class 1- Disaster Preparedness: Registration; Introduction; Hazard Mitigation; Disasters & Hazards in Montgomery County; Home, Workplace, & Community Preparedness

Class 2 - Fire Safety: Fire Chemistry; Reducing Fire Hazards; Hazardous Materials; Hands-on Fire Extinguisher Exercise

Class 3- Disaster Medical Operations (part 1): Recognizing Life-Threatening Conditions; Treating Life-Threatening Conditions; Triage

Class 4- Disaster Medical Operations (part 2): Public Health Considerations; Establishing Treatment Areas; Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments; Treating Non Life-Threatening Injuries

Class 5- Light Search and Rescue: Search & Rescue Size-up; Conducting Search & Rescue Operations; Hands-on Rescue/Cribbing Exercise

Class 6- CERT Organization and Disaster Psychology: CERT Organization; CERT Decision Making; Documentation; Team Well-Being; Working with Survivors’ Trauma

Class 7- Terrorism and CERT: What is Terrorism; Terrorism Targets; Terrorism Weapons; Preparing at Home and Work

Class 8- Disaster Simulation: Course Review; Disaster Simulation