CERT Los Angeles . . . What is CERT?
by Linda Underwood
email: cert-la@usa.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Community Emergency Response Team website: www.CERT-LA.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Public safety includes being prepared for an emergency, and CERT is the way the community can be involved ...

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:

	manage utilities and put out small fires,
	treat the three medical killers by:
	......a) opening airways,
	......b) controlling bleeding,
	......c) and treating for shock,
	provide basic medical aid,
	search for and rescue victims safely,
	organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective,
	and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.

WHY DO THE CERT TRAINING?

Well, it’s like paying for car insurance. You might never need either; you’d hope not to. But if the occasion arises, having the CERT training, just like having car insurance, means you’re as ready as you can be to help yourself, your family and your neighborhood.

HOW DO I JOIN?

CERT members receive 17 ½ hours (one day a week for seven weeks) of initial training. The 7-week course is followed by full-day biannual refresher drills, and an opportunity to assist the LAFD at local incidents.

CERT is provided free of charge within the city of Los Angeles to anyone 18 or over.

Classes are taught mornings, afternoons and evenings continually throughout the year in locations all over Los Angeles.

The current schedule is always available on the internet at www.cert-la.com/Basic.htm. Classes are listed by the day of the week and zip codes are provided. If you find a class in your area, call the contact person.

If you don’t see a class near you, call the Disaster Preparedness Unit at 818-756-9674 and give them your name, phone number, zip code and community name. When a class is scheduled in your area, they will call you.

You can also organize a class for your neighborhood, business or community group. You need a minimum of 25 people to be trained and a location to hold the training. Call the Disaster Preparedness Unit at 818-756-9674 to schedule your class.

The LAFD CERT Training only conducts non-discriminatory classes. Non-discrimination includes race, religion, gender, and group affiliations.

Click here for: History of CERT in Los Angeles