|
CERT Basic Training &
Material (Online and Classroom)
Training & Materials
This section includes all of
the curriculum developed for the CERT program, and features instructor
guides, participant manuals, and slide decks for conducting the CERT
training. In addition to the basic CERT training, materials are also
available for the CERT Train-the-Trainer and Program Manager Courses, as well
as the CERT supplemental modules, which are intended to provide additional
training in specific areas to participants who have already completed the
basic course.
Course Overview
The CERT Basic Course
is delivered in the community by a team of first responders, and other
qualified volunteers. The organization and timing of training and
meeting varies from program to program.
It is often broken up
into two to four hour blocks over a series of evenings or weekends.
- · Disaster Preparedness: Addresses hazards specific to the community.
Materials cover actions that participants and their families take
before, during and after a disaster as well as an overview of CERT and
local laws governing volunteers.
- · Fire Suppression: Covers
fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression
strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire
extinguishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire.
- · Medical Operations Part I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating
airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid
treatment techniques.
- · Medical Operations Part II: Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to
toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing
basic first aid.
- · Light Search and Rescue Operations: Participants learn about search and rescue
planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and rescuer
safety.
- · Psychology and Team Organization: Covers signs and symptoms that might be
experienced by the disaster victim and workers, and addresses CERT
organization and management.
- · Course Review and Disaster Simulation: Participants review and practice the skills
that they have learned during the previous six sessions in a disaster
activity.
During each session
participants are required to bring safety equipment (gloves, goggles, mask)
and disaster supplies (bandages, flashlight, dressings) which will be used
during the session. By doing this for each session, participants
are building a disaster response kit of items that they will need during a
disaster.
CERT Basic Training Course
Materials
English CERT materials
Spanish CERT materials
CERT Train-the-Trainer Course
Materials
CERT Program Manager Course
Materials
CERT Supplemental Training
Video Materials
This section includes the eight
downloadable CERT Training Videos for the CERT basic training and
the CERT Train-the-Trainer courses, as well as the CERT in Action Video. All
videos include closed captioning, and transcripts are available for each.
This section also includes links to the Teen CERT videos.
· Unit 2:
Fire Safety: The CERT Member's Role
This training video covers the
basics of fire size up, use of extinguishers and fire safety. Fires are
dangerous and can change quickly. As in all CERT operations, the CERT members
safety is always the number one priority. Safety measures presented in the
video include use of protective gear and the proper equipment to extinguish
small fires, working with a buddy and a team, planning for safe entry and
exit, maintaining a safe distance and position from a fire and using the
P.A.S.S. procedure to operate fire extinguishers.
· Unit 3:
CERT Triage: Handling Mass Casualty Situations
Disaster Medical Operations
Part 1. CERT trainers will be able to use the material presented in the video
to start a dialogue about the potential challenges CERT members may
face. Medical triage is the key to doing the most good for the most
people whenever there are more victims than rescuers, resources are limited
and time is critical. This training video provides an overview of the medical
triage process and portrays the steps that CERT members need to follow to
provide victims the most effective lifesaving support available until
professional responders arrive on scene. This video will support the
materials presented in the CERT Basic Training course.
· Unit 5:
Safety in the After-Disaster Environment
Light Search and Rescue
Operations. CERT trainers will be able to use the materials presented in this
video to start a dialogue about the potential challenges CERT members may
face.
CERT members can prepare to
work in a post-disaster area by understanding more about the potential
hazards, by preparing their own safety kit and by wearing the right gear. The
purpose of this training video is to prepare the CERT members for the kinds
of hazards they may experience after a disaster and to help them stay safe as
they work in the disaster area. This video will support the materials
presented in the CERT Basic Training course
· Unit 6:
CERT in Action
CERT trainers will be able to
use the video to start a dialogue about CERTs use of ICS and other critical
features of successful team operations.
In CERT in Action, a fierce
storm has struck the local community. CERT members activate in their
neighborhood, set up an Incident Command Post and assess damage throughout
the area. They use their CERT skills to respond to damage and injured victims
in the local community center, managing the situation until professional
responders are able to arrive. This video provides a useful introduction to
the CERT concept for new program participants and others who may be
interested in the program.
· Demonstrating
Victim Carries
Lt. Gregg Karl of the Arlington
County, Virginia, Fire Department demonstrates three different types of
victim carries to a class of CERT trainees. This video is recommended for use
in the CERT Train-the-Trainer course to demonstrate effective instructional
techniques for teaching victim carries.
· Demonstrating
Head-to-Toe Assessment
Lt. Byron Dixon of the
Arlington County, Virginia, Fire Department demonstrates a head-to-toe
assessment for a class of CERT trainees. This video is recommended for use in
the CERT Train-the-Trainer course to demonstrate effective instructional
techniques for teaching head-to-toe assessments.
· Coaching
Hands-On Practice - Victim Extrication
Lt. Gregg Karl of the Arlington
County, Virginia, Fire Department walks a group of CERT trainees through a
cribbing and leveraging exercise. This video is recommended for use in the
CERT Train-the-Trainer course to demonstrate effective instructional
techniques for teaching victim extrication.
· CERT
Training: Disaster Psychology
CERT participants, trained to
support the first responders during a disaster, will be challenged in many
ways during and after response operations. However, if CERT members are
prepared for the stress, they will be more successful and helpful during the
event and more able to rebound when the crisis is over. This training video
provides an overview of stress reactions and strategies for dealing with
people under stress during a disaster, including the needs of disaster workers
themselves.
· Drills
and Exercises
Drills are excellent
opportunities for CERT programs to practice, assess and improve emergency
response plans and on-the-ground operations while engaging their volunteers
and refreshing the concepts and skills learned in CERT training.
These exercises were developed
according to national guidance and principles outlined by the Homeland
Security Exercise and Evaluation Program. It is important that CERT programs
tailor their exercises to reflect realistic events that may impact their
community to practice skills they need to test or practice most.
|
Posts
