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Community
Emergency
Response Team
The next Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class will be held
from August 26th - October 4th, 2008. The class will be on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m.
Following a major disaster, first responders (police, fire fighters, and paramedics) and even public utility providers will not easily meet the demands for public service. Individual neighbors may have to rely on each other for immediate life-saving and life sustaining needs. We can help you prepare! Registration can be completed here or by calling the Creve Coeur Crime Prevention Office at 314-872-2540 or 314-442-2075. Participation is limited to the first 40 registrants.
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Following a major disaster, first responders (police, fire fighters, and paramedics) and even public utility providers will not easily meet the demands for public service. Individual neighbors may have to rely on each other for immediate life-saving and life sustaining needs. In 2001, Creve Coeur Police Chief John Beardslee introduced the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) program to subdivision trustees and Neighborhood Watch Block Captains. Chief Beardslee identified this group of select citizens as the first link between government and residents that is necessary to organize and sustain the interest and commitment to community emergency preparedness. What can you do? Fill out the volunteer form and check off the resources you can offer during a time of disaster. Return the form to your subdivision trustee or Neighborhood Watch block captain. Talk to your subdivision trustee about starting a CERT program. Download the application here. |
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| Fire Suppression Training | |
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| Cribbing Training |
What exactly is CERT?
Background
Course Work
Getting Started
The Community Emergency Response Team concept was first developed and implemented by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) after the Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the areawide threat of a major disaster in California . The Whittier Narrows quake further confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. In addition to just making good sense, the LAFD CERT program furthered the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disasters.
In 1993, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) endorsed and adopted the CERT program. FEMA emphasizes the value of CERT training by stating that in times of major disasters, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the 1999 Mexico City earthquake, where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others – a high price to pay and preventable through training. Today communities in California, Washington, Oregon, Florida, Missouri, and Kentucky conduct CERT Training.
The CERT course will be delivered by professional first responders (police, fire fighters, paramedics) that have completed a certified CERT Trainer Course sanctioned by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. The CERT training for neighborhoods is usually delivered one evening per week for seven weeks covering the following topics:
• Session I – Disaster Preparedness: Address hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community. The class also covers actions that citizens should take before, during, and after a disaster. The instructor will explore an expanded response role for citizens in that they should begin to consider themselves “disaster workers.” The CERT concept and organization are discussed as well as applicable laws governing volunteers.
• Session II – Disaster Fire Suppression: This session includes sizing up the situation, controlling utilities, and extinguishing small fires. The session will also briefly cover fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies.
• Session III – Disaster Medical Operations (Part I): Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
• Session IV – Disaster Medical Operations (Part II): Session covers evaluating victims by doing a head-to-toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner.
• Session V – Light Search and Rescue Operations: Participants learn about search and rescue planning size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important - rescuer safety.
• Session VI – Disaster Psychology and Team Organization: Covering signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker, this session also addresses CERT organization and management principles and the need for documentation.
• Session VII – Course Review and Disaster Simulations: Participants review their answers from a take home examination. Finally, they practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions.
During each session participants may be required to bring safety equipment such as gloves, goggles, and masks and disaster supplies such as bandages, dressings, and a flashlight. These items will be used during the training. By doing this for each session, participants will be building a disaster response kit containing items commonly needed during a disaster.
The goals of the CERT training is to prepare people to help people, to establish teams that can assist with saving lives and protecting property, and to identify individual and group volunteers that can support the city in responding to and recovering from a major disaster.
The Creve Coeur City Council and the Creve Coeur Police Committee support implementing the CERT training. The Creve Coeur Police Department and the Creve Coeur Fire Protection District will have certified personnel train citizens. The next step is for you, the Creve Coeur citizen, to show your interest in the training and offering your commitment as a volunteer. Talk to your subdivision trustee or Neighborhood Watch Block Captain.
Creve Coeur residents and local businesses offer a tremendous pool of resources, in terms of personal and professional experience and services. Citizens can provide privately and professionally owned equipment and supplies. Many citizens have access to important resources through their employment or other affiliations.
Chief Beardslee provided the Trustees and Block Captains a handout that included a survey designed to identify interest in the CERT Program, as well as identify citizens’ willingness to volunteer personal services and/or equipment and supplies to the City in its response and recovery in a major disaster.
Complete your survey and forward it to one of your subdivision Trustees or Neighborhood Watch Block Captains.
Volunteer Emergency Response Survey
For more information, contact Officer Jon McIntosh at (314) 442-2075 or Officer Phil Lane at (314) 872-2540.
