Community Emergency Response Team
Community Emergency Response Team
When Disaster Strikes, Be Prepared to Help
The City of Ventura is pleased to reinstate the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, a free program to educate community members about disaster preparedness, and provide training in basic disaster response skills and disaster medical operations. Ventura was the first city in the County to initiate this course in the 1990's; grant funding is now available to bring back this valuable curriculum.
What is CERT?
CERT is a program of Citizen Corps, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's approach to involve citizens in emergency preparedness, and is funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The function of CERT is to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a major disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to meet the demand for service. After the training, CERT members will be better prepared to take care of themselves and the community.
CERT members will receive approximately 20 hours of hands-on training from professionals in emergency management. CERT members will receive training in:
* Disaster/emergency preparedness
* Fire safety and suppression
* Disaster medical (treatment and triage evaluation)
* Light search and rescue
* Organizing/managing a CERT team
* Disaster psychology
* Terrorism and CERT
A disaster simulation drill is conducted during the last class. Additional training opportunities are available with continuing education programs, including periodic refresher drills. Graduates receive a starter kit and a certificate verifying their training.
Who can join the team?
Ventura residents of all abilities are welcome to attend; training is free of charge to citizens 18 years of age or older. School staff, workpace employees, scouting organizations and other groups that are committed to serve our community are encouraged to sign-up and assist their neighbors during emergencies or disaster situations.
How do I join CERT?
If you are interested in becoming a part of the CERT team please contact Fire Marshal Brian Clark at bclark@cityofventura.net or (805) 658-7794.
When and where is the training?
Classes will be held on six consecutive Wednesday's beginning on January 20, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Ventura City Fire Department Headquarters, 1425 Dowell Drive. If you are unable to attend all the classes you may sit in on a training session at a different location; please check the Ventura County Fire Department CERT Program website at http://fire.countyofventura.org/cert or call (805) 389-9710.
For more information visit http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/. An independent study course, "Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams", IS-317, is also available and serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/training_mat.shtm
Click on the links below for CERT training offered in neighboring cities:
Register on CodeRED - our high-speed emergency notification phone system.
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