Community Emergency Response Teams (C.E.R.T.)

Florissant Valley Fire Protection District, in partnership with Florissant Police Department, offers Community Emergency Response Team training several times each year.

About C.E.R.T.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began promoting nationwide use of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since its inception, CERTs have been established in hundreds of communities.

CERT training promotes a partnership between emergency services and the people that they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency capability for their area.

If a disaster overwhelms or delays the communityís professional responders, CERT members can assist by applying the skills that they learn during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until professional help arrives.

CERT training will teach participants to:

1. Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
2. Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate response.
3. Take steps to prepare for a disaster.
4. Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
5. Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources and safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid.
6. Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding and treating shock.
7. Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
8. Perform head-to-toe assessments.
9. Select and set-up a treatment area.
10. Employ basic treatments for various wounds.
11. Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
12. Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
13. Use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
14. Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue.

Target Audience:

• Neighborhoods
• Businesses
• Communities of Faith
• Scouting organizations
• School staff/students
• Clubs/Organizations

CERT Training

The CERT Training consists of 21 hours of classroom instruction, one night a week for six weeks. Emergency personnel from Florissant Valley Fire Protection District and Florissant Police Department will teach the program.

Session I Disaster Preparedness
Session II Disaster Medical Operations
Session III Fire Suppression and Hazardous Materials
Session IV Light Search and Rescue
Session V Skills Session
Session VI Team Organization and Disaster Psychology

How to Sign Up

For additional information, or to register for CERT training, contact:

Sergeant Kevin Boschert
Florissant Police Department
314-831-7000

Helpful websites:

City of Florissant Web Site
http://www.florissantmo.com/police

Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov

Department of Homeland Security
http://www.ready.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov