COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT) The Federal Emergency Management Agency using the model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department began promoting nationwide implementation of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since then, CERT’s have been established in hundreds of communities in the U.S. The City of Crestwood is an active member of the Meramec Valley Citizen Corp Council whose goal is to prepare communities we serve by providing CERT training. In addition, this training promotes a joint effort between our emergency services personnel and our citizens. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the emergency services personnel, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives. http://www.fema.gov/ http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/CERT/ http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/ CERT members will have the opportunity to maintain and refine their skills by participating in exercises and activities. They can attend supplemental training that will be hosted by The Meramec Valley Citizen Corp Council periodically. These training sessions will keep members fresh on skills learned in the initial training and further their skill base. For additional information about our class or to register, contact Assistant Chief Mark Menning at 729-4741 or mmenning@ci.crestwood.mo.us. WHO SHOULD ATTEND A CERT COURSE? Neighborhoods Businesses Communities of Faith School Staff Clubs/Organizations Amateur Radio Emergency Services Participants must be at least 17 years or older to attend this training CERT Training will teach participant to: Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate response Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplace Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating shock Conduct triage under simulated conditions Perform head-to-assessments Select and set up a treatment area Employ basic first aid treatments for various wounds Identify planning and size-up Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure Use safe techniques for searching a structure Describe ways to protect resources during search and rescue operations