The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. CERT is a nationwide initiative. If you or someone you know is interested in joing the local CERT team, reach out to the Sayreville CERT Coordinator Kathy Moskal at kmoscalcert@gmail.com or the Sayreville Office of Emergency Management. See below for upcoming scheduled trainings.
Training
Total training is usually about 20 hours, scheduled in 2-4 hour modules, over a period of weeks or months, in order to address the scheduling needs of team members. It's held in the community or county where you live. Training courses, student materials and equipment are provided free of charge. If you join a CERT, you will receive basic-level training in the following areas:
Disaster Preparedness
Introduction to disasters specific to the community, and the impact of disaster on infrastructure.
Disaster Fire Suppression
Identifying and reducing potential fire hazards and basic fire suppression.
Disaster Medical Operations
Part I: Treatment strategies for life-threatening conditions and principles of traige.
Part II: Head-to-toe patient assessment and treatment for various injuries
Light Search and Rescue Operations
Techniques for sizing up and searching, lifting, cribbing and removing victims; rescue safety.
Disaster Psychology & Team Organization
The post-disaster emotional environment will be discussed. CERT organization, decision making and documentation.
Terrorism
A brief overview of terrorism weapons. Identifying targets in an area and discuss time/distance/shielding.
Final Exercise
Disaster Simulation realistic to your community.
CERT Training will teach participants to:
Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate response.
Take steps to prepare themselves for disaster.
Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid.
Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating shock.
Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
Perform head-to-toe assessments.
Select and set up a treatment area.
Employ basic treatments for various wounds.
Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. CERT is a nationwide initiative. If you or someone you know is interested in joing the local CERT team, reach out to the Sayreville CERT Coordinator Kathy Moskal at kmoscalcert@gmail.com or the Sayreville Office of Emergency Management. See below for upcoming scheduled trainings..png)
