CERT Training
In extreme weather events or disaster situations, CERT members may play a role in disaster relief in Big Sur. If incidents are relatively minor then official and professional channels should be able to respond to incidents in a timely manner. However, if incidents should occur that overwhelm or delay official and professional responders, the CERT team may be called upon by Big Sur Fire to aid in response until professionals arrive.
CERT members may be called upon to:
- Gather information to speed response when professionals arrive
- Organize a disaster zone into quadrants (disaster site, triage, treatment, etc.)
- Aid in communication
- Perform basic disaster triage and First Aid
- Perform light search and rescue
- Put out small fires
- Aid in evacuation
- Aid in shelter support
- Assess potentially hazardous situations and takes steps to keep the public from further injury (such as limiting access to a specific hazardous area, shutting off of propane in the wake of a fire or earthquake, etc.)
CERT members are encouraged to:
- Aid in community preparedness
- Continue their training with more extensive courses in First Aid and CPR
- First respond to the immediate needs of themselves, their families, their neighbors, their immediate location, and then to respond to a disaster zone or staging area
When training is complete, CERT members in the Big Sur Community will have completed an extensive online course, attended two live 7 hour training sessions, and participate in a 4 hour disaster simulation.
Topics covered in the online and live training include:
- Disaster Preparedness
- Fire Safety
- Disaster Medical Operations
- Light Search and Rescue Operations
- CERT Organization
- Disaster Psychology
- Terrorism and CERT
- Disaster Simulation
CERT members receive a certificate of completion, a CERT ID, and a backpack with equipment basic that should be supplemented by each individual.
CERT training sessions are held at various times throughout the year at various locations.
On-line CERT Training:
https://www.ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team