CERT Team
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train individuals to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities.
When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first aid,fire and personnel police, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with specific non-emergency efforts that help improve the safety of the community.
CERT is a nationwide initiative. The events of September 11 will never be forgotten; also not forgotten is how the spirit of America was awakened that day and citizens came forth to volunteer their services. President George W. Bush harnessed this spirit of volunteerism with the Citizen Corps program. CERT is a part of the National Citizen Corps Program
CERT training
CERT training is conducted locally at no charge and teaches participants to:
- Recognize the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
- Take steps to prepare themselves and their family for disaster.
- Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
- Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish small fires.
- Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating shock.
- Conduct triage in mass casualty events.
- Perform head-to-toe assessments of the injured during a disaster.
- Select and set up a treatment area.
- Employ basic first aid treatments.
- Identify planning and size-up requirements for search and rescue situations.
- Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
To become a local CERT member, you must be over 18 years of age, complete the Application, (Adobe PDF Reader Required) and pass a background check.
For more information, visit the Government CERT page or contact Bruce Clark, Washington Township Office of Emergency Management.