Community Emergency Response Teams Program

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What is CERT?

  • A community-based training program offered to municipalities, schools, scouts, business and industry, and non-profits, including community and faith-based organizations. 
  • Certified trainers train and develop team members within their organizations or community.
  • CERT teams, comprised of people trained in BASIC emergency skills, help the community's residents, schools and businesses deal with injuries and conditions until professionals can arrive.
  • A program to help volunteers stay alive in a disaster rescue and assistance situation. 
  • A way to pre-plan for a potential neighborhood emergency. 
  • A way to reduce stress and confusion in the local area. 
  • An inducement for citizens to seek higher levels of training through other sources. 
  • A format that you can adapt to your local community structure. 

What the CERT Program is NOT:

  • NOT a replacement for highly trained volunteer or paid professional first responders. 
  • NOT designed to be activated by the media or 9-1-1; a disaster activates the team. 
  • NOT providing any law enforcement powers to citizens. 
  • NOT a replacement for fire, rescue and healthcare providers. 
  • Not a perfect, tailor-made program, providing all the answers for every disaster scenario. 

Prerequisites

  • Willingness to be a CERT team trainer
  • Certified in Basic First Aid 
  • Certified in CPR/AED

Training Provided 

8 hours of intensive instruction and hands-on activity
  • The elements of disaster preparedness
  • Disaster fire suppression
  • Light search and rescue
  • Disaster psychology
  • Team organization

Other training opportunities available to CERT personnel are offered by the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services (ACES).

You can find additional independent study courses at FEMA .

To schedule a Train-the-Trainer session, contact us by phone at 412-473-2550 or use the form below. 

Click here to view form.

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