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HOSA CERT Skills Notes

CERT Basic Training Overview

  • CERT: Community Emergency Response Team program educating communities on disaster preparedness.

  • Topics include team organization, medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue.

History of the CERT Program

  • Developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in the 1980s after evaluating volunteer efforts during disasters.

  • Aimed to prepare civilians for early disaster response, freeing professionals for critical tasks.

  • Became nationally recognized, with FEMA expanding its reach in 1994.

Community Preparedness Model

  • Engages all community members in enhancing resilience.

  • Pre-event planning in neighborhoods reduces injury and damage during disasters.

  • Studies show organized efforts yield better outcomes in disaster scenarios.

Damage Assessment and Initial Response

  • Disasters restrict resources, cutting off support.

  • Communities should prepare for self-reliance in food, water, and shelter initially post-disaster.

  • CERT volunteers assess situations, prioritize needs, and distribute resources.

CERT Operations Structure

  • Organized and trained volunteers establish contact with emergency services for efficient communication and damage assessment.

  • CERTs function as the first response, focusing on life-saving actions and reporting back to professional responders.

Participants and Training Objectives

  • Objectives include preparing families, understanding CERT organization, assessing medical situations, and addressing psychological needs.

  • Emphasis on reducing hazards and maintaining emotional well-being in disaster situations.

Course Structure

Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness

  • Community roles in preparedness, home and workplace strategies, hazards, and mitigation efforts.

Unit 2: CERT Organization

  • Understanding team organization and mobilization, followed by documentation tasks.

Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations – Part 1 and 2

  • Focus on basic first aid, controlling bleeding methods, shelter stabilization, and patient assessments.

Unit 4: Disaster Psychology

  • Awareness of emotional impacts on volunteers and survivors, stress management, and support techniques.

Unit 5: Fire Safety and Utility Controls

  • Identifying fire hazards, understanding fire chemistry, and safety procedures in suppression and utility control.

Unit 6: Light Search and Rescue

  • Techniques for effective search operations, using a systematic approach to ensure coverage and safety.

Unit 7: Terrorism

  • Defining terrorism, recognizing signs, and knowing how to respond to such incidents as CERT volunteers.

Unit 8: Final Evaluation and Disaster Simulation

  • Participants engage in practical exercises applying knowledge and skills learned throughout training.