HOSA CERT Skills (Basic)
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Disaster Preparedness (15%)
Q: What is the main goal of CERT?
A: To prepare communities to respond effectively when professional responders are unavailable.
Q: What are the two main types of disasters?
A: Natural and human-caused.
Q: What are the three steps to personal preparedness?
A: Make a plan, build a kit, stay informed.
Q: How much water per person per day should you store?
A: 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days.
Q: What is CERT’s guiding principle?
A: Do the greatest good for the greatest number.
Q: When should CERT members deploy?
A: Only after ensuring personal safety and when officially activated.
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CERT Organization (5%)
Q: What system does CERT use to manage incidents?
A: The Incident Command System (ICS).
Q: What is the ideal span of control in ICS?
A: 3–7 people per leader (5 is ideal).
Q: Who ensures team safety?
A: The Safety Officer.
Q: Name four main CERT command roles.
A: Incident Commander, Operations, Logistics, Planning.
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Life-Threatening Interventions & SALT Triage (30%)
Q: What does SALT stand for?
A: Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport.
Q: What are the triage categories and colors?
A: Immediate (Red), Delayed (Yellow), Minor (Green), Expectant/Dead (Black).
Q: What is the first step in SALT triage?
A: Sort — call out for walking wounded to move to a safe area.
Q: What are common lifesaving interventions?
A: Open airway, control bleeding, position recovery, apply tourniquet.
Q: What does the “30-2-Can Do” rule mean?
A: >30 breaths/min = Red; >2 sec cap refill = Red; can’t follow commands = Red.
Q: How do you control severe bleeding?
A: Direct pressure → elevation → tourniquet if needed.
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Medical Operations (20%)
Q: What is the goal of CERT medical operations?
A: Stabilize victims until professional help arrives.
Q: What does DCAP-BTLS stand for?
A: Deformities, Contusions, Abrasions, Punctures, Burns, Tenderness, Lacerations, Swelling.
Q: What are signs of shock?
A: Pale, cool, clammy skin; rapid pulse; restlessness.
Q: How do you treat shock?
A: Maintain airway, control bleeding, keep warm, elevate legs (if safe).
Q: What four areas make up a treatment site?
A: Immediate, Delayed, Minor, Morgue.
Q: When should you not move a victim?
A: When a spinal injury is suspected, unless in danger.
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Disaster Psychology (5%)
Q: What are the stress reaction categories?
A: Physical, cognitive, emotional.
Q: What are the five phases after a disaster?
A: Impact, Heroic, Honeymoon, Disillusionment, Reconstruction.
Q: What technique helps manage responder stress?
A: Use the buddy system, take breaks, rotate tasks.
Q: What is CISD?
A: Critical Incident Stress Debriefing — happens after the event.
Q: What is the CERT motto for mental health?
A: You can’t help others if you don’t take care of yourself.
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Fire Safety (5%)
Q: What are the three parts of the fire triangle?
A: Heat, fuel, oxygen.
Q: What is the PASS technique?
A: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.
Q: When should CERT members fight a fire?
A: Only small fires (wastebasket size) with a safe exit.
Q: What should you always do before fighting a fire?
A: Ensure an escape route and correct extinguisher type.
Q: What direction should you stay relative to a fire?
A: Keep yourself between the fire and your exit.
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Light Search & Rescue (15%)
Q: What is the goal of light search and rescue?
A: Locate, access, and extricate victims safely.
Q: What are the 9 steps of size-up?
A: Gather facts, assess damage, identify hazards, determine resources, establish priorities, develop plan, take action, evaluate, revise.
Q: What do the building markings mean?
A: / = in progress, X = complete (time/date, hazards, team ID, victims).
Q: How do you classify building damage?
A: Light (safe), Moderate (enter cautiously), Heavy (do not enter).
Q: What method helps ensure you search every area?
A: Right-hand or left-hand search pattern.
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Terrorism (5%)
Q: What does CBRNE stand for?
A: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive.
Q: What is CERT’s role in a terrorist incident?
A: Observe and report — do not investigate.
Q: What are possible indicators of terrorism?
A: Unusual odors, vapor clouds, mass illness, dead animals.
Q: What direction should you move after a suspected chemical release?
A: Uphill and upwind.
Q: Should CERT members handle suspicious items?
A: No — report to authorities immediately.