Background
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was initially developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985, and was created to:
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Educate people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area.
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Train them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
The CERT program makes good sense and helps citizens understand their responsibility in preparing for and responding to a disaster or emergency. It increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors. Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have recognized the importance of preparing citizens and CERT is now a nationwide, federally sponsored program. CERT is also key program in the national Citizen Corps initiative.
Lee CERT
To view the Lee CERT brochure, click here.
Lee County CERT is a collection of all the CERT programs in Lee County. Individual programs, called CERT Chapters, are administered by Fire Districts. Typically, CERT Chapter jurisdictions fall in line with the boundaries of its sponsoring Fire District.
The coordinating body for CERT in Lee County is the Lee County CERT Advisory Group. This Advisory Group is made up of representatives from each CERT Chapter and it is collectively administered by a Group Board.
To view a map of CERT Chapters in Lee County, click here.
Getting Started
Before becoming a member of Lee County CERT, you must complete CERT Basic Training. To begin your training fill out a Lee County CERT Application and mail, fax or email it to:
Volunteer Coordinator
Lee County Emergency Management
PO Box 398
Fort Myers, FL 33902
Fax #: (239) 477-3636
EMVolCoordinator@leegov.com
Once your application is received it will be processed and forwarded to the appropriate CERT Chapter. You will be contacted soon after.
If you would like to learn more about CERT before starting your Basic Training, feel free to just browse this website or request more information. If you want, you may also take the web-based FEMA Independent Study course, Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (IS-317).
*Note: FEMA IS-317 can not be substituted for CERT Basic Training. IS-317 is intended for informational purposes only. To become a member of Lee County CERT, you must complete CERT Basic Training.
Training
In addition to educating people in disaster preparedness, the CERT concept is intended to train citizens to provide additional support resources during large-scale situations and to also provide non-critical support functions during non-emergency situations.
CERT Members must undergo the classroom-delivered CERT Basic Training. This CERT Basic Training is presented in a hands-on fashion and is delivered by first responders and subject matter experts who have the requisite knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. Training topics are:
TEAM ORGANIZATION: This session addresses CERT organization, CERT management and responsibilities, CERT principles and the need for documentation. During this period of the training all housekeeping items are reviewed.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: This session addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community and actions that participants and their families should take before, during, and after a disaster. During this part of the training, instructors begin to explore the expanded response role for civilians in that they should begin to consider themselves disaster workers and disaster survivors, not victims.
FIRE SAFETY/SUPPRESSION: This part of the training covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. This session covers the safe use of fire extinguishers, how to appropriately size up situations, controlling utilities and extinguishing small fires.
DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, Part 1: During this session participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstructions, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, Part 2: In this session participants learn how to establish a medical treatment area, evaluate patients by using a head to toe assessment, perform basic first aid, and practice these methods in a safe and sanitary manner.
LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS: During this part of the training participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety.
DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY: This part of the training covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by both the disaster victim and worker and how to handle the psychological impact of disaster.
TERRORISM: In this session, participants learn what terrorism is and the necessary actions to take following a suspected terrorist attack.
COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION: At the culmination of CERT Basic Training, participants review their answers from a take home examination and finally, practice the skills that they have learned during the previous sessions in a disaster drill/exercise activity.
To view the CERT Basic Training Participant Manual, click here.
Staying Involved
During their training, CERT Volunteers are given CERT Kits and are urged to help their fellow County residents by assisting emergency response organizations in a volunteer capacity.
To this effect, CERT Volunteers must maintain a skill level necessary to assist in basic life support efforts and responses to emergencies and disaster. CERT Volunteers must always possess the knowledge required to accomplish this without the threat of becoming a secondary casualty. Additional and refresher training sessions are offered periodically.
CERT Chapters are urged to sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood clean-up and disaster education fairs. These ultimately help to further educate the community on the value of disaster preparedness and CERT.
If you would like to get more involved and volunteer, or if you have any questions about volunteering, call your local CERT Chapter or the Lee County Emergency Management Volunteer Coordinator at (239) Lee-EOCC (533-3622).
