451 members trained to date!
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began promoting nationwide use of the Communtiy Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since then, CERTs have been established in hundreds of communities throughout the country.
CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people they serve.
The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of the neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then included into the emergency response resources for their area.

The goal of the program is to help the residents of Menlo Park Fire District be self- sufficient in a major disaster situation for at least 72 hours. This training teaches participants how to develop neighborhood teams, cross-trained in basic emergency actions. Through this program individuals will learn hands-on disaster skills that will help them members of an emergency response team and/or as a leader directing untrained volunteers during an emergency. This will assist them to act independently or as an adjunct to District emergency services.

There is no cost for the listed neighborhood training. This is a fifteen hour comprehensive training program, with each session lasting approximately 2.5 hours.

Session #1

Earthquake Awareness, Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation

  • Earthquake type, magnitude, history and probability.
  • How to prepare before it happens.
  • What to do when the earth starts to shake.
Session #2

Basic Disaster Skills

  • Natural gas, water and electrical controls, why, when and how to shut them off.
  • Types of fire, and using exstinguishers to put the fire out.
  • Hazardous Materials awareness in the home, on the road, and in the workplace.
Session #3

Medical

  • Health considerations for the rescuer.
  • Opening airways.
  • Stopping bleeding and controlling shock.
  • S.T.A.R.T. triage.
  • Minor burns.
Session #4

Light Search and Rescue

  • Different types of construction and where to look for damage.
  • How to classify damaged buildings.
  • Building marking system.
  • Interior search patterns.
  • Lifting heavy objects and mechanical advantage.
  • Victim carries.
Session #5

Team Organization and Management

  • Disaster plans and where CERT fits in.
  • CERT Incident Command System, managing the disaster.
  • Disaster Psychology.
Session #6

Skills Development and Application

  • Extinguishing fires.
  • Triaging and treating victims.
  • Extricating a victim trapped by heavy timbers.
  • Interior search for reported missing persons.
  • Exterior building damage assessment.
  • Review and final exam.
  • Award of Achievement and course evalution.

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