CERT-Community Emergency Response Team
Tues, November 18, 2008 2:02 PM
Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet all the demands for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911.
People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. One also expects that under these conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.
Your Neighbors Need You
During the first few hours after a disaster emergency units will be overwhelmed, leaving your neighborhood to take care of itself until emergency units can respond. CERT provides you the basic knowledge to support your family and neighborhood needs while waiting for help.
Be Prepared!
CERT program help to train members to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.
Why Should I Prepare?
The events of September 11, 2001, have forever changed the emergency preparedness efforts of communities nationwide, and Surprise is no different. These events proved that disaster can strike anywhere at anytime. It is our obligation as a public safety organization to prepare the community prior to an event occurring. No one can predict when disaster will strike, however everyone can prepare for it. This program will truly prepare our community in the event of a disaster occurring and offer the community an organized volunteer response effort.
Community Emergency Response Training
(CERT) Program
The City of Surprise has implemented a community emergency response training approach to community preparedness. The purpose of the CERT program is to prepare neighborhoods, businesses, special interest groups, places of worship, industry and virtually any other group of individual for a natural, man made or terrorist disaster. The CERT program provides your neighborhood with enough training and knowledge to survive on your own until emergency crews can arrive to assist you. A Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program has been developed and is being offered to interested residents. Fill out our online form to request information about CERT classes or visit the Community Services Events page for a upcoming class schedules.
Course Goals
First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Secondly, give the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Thirdly, train them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. Fourth, organize teams within their neighborhood so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.
What Does The Training Involve?
The CERT designation is achieved after the completion of a 24 hour training program. The program will be conducted by the Fire Department and delivered by experienced fire service professionals. The only entrance requirement is that you are willing to be an active participant in our efforts to raise the community's preparedness level. There is no charge to attend this training.
- Session One: Disaster Preparedness
- Session Two: Disaster Fire Suppression
- Session Three: Disaster Medical Operations I
- Session Four: Disaster Medical Operations II
- Session Five: Light Search and Rescue Operations
- Session Six: Disaster Psychology and Team Organization
- Session Seven: Course Overview and Disaster Simulation
Your Commitment
Three Saturdays! The commitment to improve the preparedness level of your home, neighborhood, community and the willingness to act in the event that a disaster does strike our community. Visit the Community Services Event page for scheduled classes or submit our online form to sign/up.
Our Commitment To You
Provide quality instructions, through the use of fire service professionals, to effectively train and prepare you in the basic skills for disaster preparedness response.
Regular updates, via US mail or email, on CERT team functions such as drills, workshops, and volunteer opportunities and announcements of all Fire Department functions and updates
Call 623.222.5400 for more information.
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