Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees. The training program makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards. The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster.

Basic level #1 CERT training is open to anyone who is interested in Life Saving Skills, Disaster Preparedness, Fire Suppression, Cribbing, Light Search & Rescue, Triage, and Head to Toe Assessment. The class is a total of 21 hours that must be completed to receive the FEMA Certificate of graduation. You must be over the age of 18 to get a certificate but any age can attend a CERT class with parental supervision. Training is designed to cover the following:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Safety • Disaster Medical Operations - Triage and Treating Life Threatening Injuries
• Disaster Medical Operations - Assessment, Treatment, and Hygiene
• Light Search and Rescue
• Team Organization
• Disaster Psychology
• Terrorism and CERT
• Final Exercise
• Sessions require about 21 hours to complete

CERT Training

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department are providing CERT Training Courses. Please watch our calendar for upcoming classes.

Maintaining Involvement

After participants have completed this training, it is important to keep involved and practice your skills. CERT offers periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training. You can organize a neighborhood CERT group and practice your skills in your own neighborhood, learn who will take charge, where you will meet and implement a neighborhood Incident Command System. First responders need to be educated about CERT and their value to the community. Using CERT as a component of the response system when there are exercises for potential disasters can reinforce this idea. We recommend everyone going through CERT training.