Willemtte Village N.A.

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Background

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. They created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private/government employees.

The training program furthers the citizens' understanding of their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors.

Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA (federal Emergency Management Agency), communities in 41states and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.

Why CERT?

Following the Mexico City earthquake untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people - but 100 of the volunteers lost their lives while attempting to save them.

What can we do to prepare citizens if there is no warning, as in an earthquake, and people will spontaneously volunteer?

Train them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.

When Disaster Strikes:

Following a Major Disaster, such as an earthquake, tornado, or flooding; fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for the emergency services that people have come to expect at a moment's notice through calling 911.

Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent them from operating normally.

The disaster could leave many individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside help and support.

For the initial period immediately following a disaster - up to 72 hrs. (3 days) or longer - individuals, households, and neighborhoods may need to rely on each other for help to meet immediate life saving needs and daily needs of:

Food - Water - First aid - Shelter - Sanitation

What Does CERT Do?

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will initially be on their own, and their actions can make a difference.

Through CERT training, citizens can manage:

Utilities by learning where and how to turn off gas meters,
if leaking gas is detected.

If you turn the gas off, you will need
a professional to turn it back on.

 

Put out small fires
using extinguishers.

 

 

Search and rescue victims safely
using cribbing techniques.

 

 

 

Triage victims
by controlling bleeding,
treating for shock and
providing basic medical aid.

 

 

 

Organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers
to be effective in aiding the victims.

Go to "Calendar of Events" for more information on CERT training.