Become a Community Emergency Response Team member to help your neighborhood during disasters.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are trained volunteer groups that assist first responders during disasters. After a major disaster, professional responders are overwhelmed and may not reach your neighborhood for hours or days. CERT teams fill the gap — performing light search and rescue, first aid, triage, fire suppression, and crowd management. This guide covers what CERT is, how to join, what training you'll receive, and how to start a team in your community.
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CERT teams perform: light search and rescue, basic first aid and triage, fire suppression (small fires), traffic control, crowd management, damage assessment, and support for professional responders. They do NOT perform advanced medical care or hazardous material response.
Pro Tip
CERT's motto is 'Do the greatest good for the greatest number.' Triage skills help you prioritize who needs help most urgently.
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