Lynwood C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team)


Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moments notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. One also expects that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other.

The C.E.R.T. training for community groups is usually delivered in 2 hour sessions, one evening a week over a 7 week period. The training consists of the following:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Disaster Fire Suppression
• Disaster Medical Operations Part I
• Disaster Medical Operations Part II
• Light Search and Rescue Operations
• Disaster Psychology and Team Organization
• Course Review and Disaster Simulation

C.E.R.T. is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. C.E.R.T. is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; learn how to open airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves as spontaneous volunteers to be effective.