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| cert courses |
Saturday, July 5th - 10:17 PM |
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74°F |
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
 The Spokane Fire Department has been offering the FEMA-approved 20 hour CERT training curriculum to the community for several years. The program operates from the Training Division under the direction of a Battalion Chief who serves as the Department CERT coordinator. SFD CERT courses are taught by a cadre of men and women from the Spokane Fire Department. Several SFD personnel donate their time and energy throughout the year to update and maintain the program’s curriculum and teach the on-going education program. The SFD hosts live drills and scenarios that challenge the CERT Team’s skills and knowledge in all of the facets of the CERT curriculum multiple times annually.
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 The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
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 While the Fire Department provides this training to the citizens, it is important to note that CERT volunteers do not work for the Fire Department. Volunteers are registered with the County Emergency Management Agency. In the event of a disaster, these volunteers will have the skills and tools necessary to take care of themselves, their families, their neighbors and coworkers. Some volunteers become part of the disaster plan for local authorities. Upon activation of the CERT Program, a City representative, a Fire Department liaison or law enforcement liaison will contact CERT volunteers and provide direction about how those volunteers will be utilized.
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The CERT training is offered free of charge and participants have no obligation or commitment to respond or act in the event of a disaster.
The curriculum of the CERT Program is as follows:
- DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Introduction to disasters, impact of disasters on infrastructures, and the role of CERT volunteers.
- DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION
Fire chemistry and basic fire suppression, identifying and reducing potential fire hazards, firefighting resources and techniques, as well as a discussion on hazardous materials.
- DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS 1
Treatment strategies for life-threatening conditions and the principles of triage.
- DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS 2
Head-to-toe patient assessments, establishing treatment areas, treatments for burns, lacerations, fractures, sprains, and other injuries (this is basic information . . . NOT a first-aid class).
- LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS
Search and rescue priorities and resources, size-up techniques and rescuer safety, lifting, cribbing, and victim removal.
- DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION
Post-disaster emotional environment, the Incident Command System, and decision-making and documentation.
- TERRORISM
Risk and threat analysis, types of terrorism weapons, and travel and terrorism.
- COURSE REVIEW AND SIMULATION
Simulation will either be a hands-on drill utilizing newly learned skills or a table-top exercise.
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For more information on upcoming CERT courses in the Spokane Area, please call (509) 625-7195 or email us at cert@spokanefire.org
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