Lil Guide

HOSA CERT Skills - 7-Day Study Plan

Quick Overview

CERT Skills covers emergency preparedness and response across multiple units. Focus on the "Rule of 3s" for priorities and systematic approaches.

Day 1-2: Foundation Units

Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness

  • Disaster types: Natural (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes) vs. man-made (hazmat, terrorism)

  • Hazard assessment: Identify, evaluate, prioritize risks

  • Personal preparedness: 72-hour kits, family emergency plans

  • Community preparedness: Neighborhood teams, communication plans

Key Points:

  • Always ensure personal safety first

  • Use STEP method: Size-up, Triage, Establish priorities, Proceed with action

Unit 2: CERT Organization

  • ICS (Incident Command System): Chain of command, span of control

  • CERT activation: When/how teams deploy

  • Documentation: Importance of record-keeping during incidents

  • Legal considerations: Good Samaritan laws, liability

Day 3-4: Medical & Rescue Operations

Unit 3: Medical Operations Part 1

  • Triage basics:

    • RED (immediate) - life-threatening but saveable

    • YELLOW (delayed) - serious but stable

    • GREEN (minor) - walking wounded

    • BLACK (deceased/expectant)

  • Assessment: Primary (ABCs) vs. Secondary survey

  • Shock treatment: Elevate legs, maintain body temperature

Unit 4: Medical Operations Part 2

  • Wound care: Control bleeding (direct pressure → pressure points → tourniquet)

  • Fracture management: Splinting techniques, immobilization

  • Head/spinal injuries: C-spine precautions, when NOT to move

  • Burns: Rule of 9s, cooling methods, when to evacuate

Unit 5: Light Search & Rescue

  • Search patterns: Systematic approaches, marking systems

  • Rescue techniques: Leverage, cribbing, team lifts

  • Safety first: Never exceed team capabilities

  • Victim removal: Drags, carries, improvised stretchers

Day 5-6: Hazards & Psychology

Unit 6: Fire Safety

  • Fire triangle: Heat, fuel, oxygen

  • Suppression methods: Water, foam, CO2, dry chemical

  • Safety rules: Stay low for smoke, test doors, escape routes

  • When NOT to fight: If fire is larger than you, lack of escape route

Unit 7: Hazardous Materials

  • Identification: Placards, labels, shipping papers

  • Safety distances: Isolation zones, decontamination areas

  • Personal protection: When to evacuate vs. shelter in place

  • Reporting: What information to relay to professionals

Unit 8: Disaster Psychology

  • Stress reactions: Normal responses to abnormal situations

  • Helping survivors: Active listening, practical assistance

  • Team resilience: Buddy system, rotation, debriefing

  • When to refer: Signs requiring professional help

Day 7: Review & Practice

Final Review Checklist

□ Can explain ICS and CERT's role
□ Know triage categories and priorities
□ Understand basic first aid principles
□ Remember search and rescue safety rules
□ Identify when to evacuate vs. take action
□ Recognize stress reactions and responses

Practice Scenarios

  1. Earthquake response: What's your first action? (Personal safety, then assess)

  2. Injured person: Walk through primary assessment (ABCs)

  3. House fire: When do you attempt rescue vs. evacuate area?

  4. Hazmat spill: How do you approach and what info do you gather?

Key Formulas & Numbers to Remember

  • Rule of 3s: 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food

  • Shock position: Elevate legs 8-12 inches (unless spinal injury suspected)

  • Burn cooling: 10-15 minutes with clean, cool water

  • CPR ratios: 30 compressions : 2 breaths

  • Triage tags: RED-YELLOW-GREEN-BLACK color system

Test-Taking Tips

  1. Read carefully: Look for keywords like "first," "most important," "immediate"

  2. Safety first: When in doubt, choose the answer that prioritizes safety

  3. Follow protocols: CERT follows systematic approaches - don't skip steps

  4. Think like CERT: You're a trained volunteer, not a professional responder

  5. Process of elimination: Cross out obviously wrong answers first

Last-Minute Cramming Points

  • CERT motto: "Do the greatest good for the greatest number"

  • Personal safety always comes first - you can't help if you become a victim

  • When in doubt, evacuate - better safe than sorry

  • Document everything - important for professional responders

  • Work in teams - never operate alone in emergency situations

Good luck! Remember: You've got the knowledge - trust your training and think systematically!