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SCCERT | |
The
Sonoma County CERT Association was organized to promote the CERT program in Sonoma
County. The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training program is designed
to prepare you to help yourself, your family and your neighbors in the event of
a catastrophic disaster such as earthquake, flood, fire or other widespread event
that affects our area, when emergency services are not available to provide for
immediate assistance. The
basic CERT training is provided through a combination of classroom work and exercises,
practicing the skills and theories learned in class lectures and discussions.
CERT Classes are usually provided over a period of 4 or more weeks. The 20 to
27 hours, of training, depending on the specific classes available from your local
CERT Program, includes: Disaster Preparedness; Fire Safety, which includes use
of a fire extinguisher; two classes in Medical Operations - one of which covers
life saving and triage and the other, the practical use of dressings, bandages,
splints and other traumatic injury care; Light Search & Rescue; CERT Organization,
including team management; Disaster Psychology; and a Final Exercise of a simulated
disaster scenario. Some CERT groups also may include a class on Terrorism and
how CERT members can respond to a terrorism incident. In Addition, some CERT groups
also cover HAM radio use and provide access to becoming licensed HAM radio operators. |
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After completion of the
basic training and Program graduation, CERT members can often join with others
in their neighborhoods or workplaces to form teams capable to respond to a disaster
when professional first responders are not immediately available to help. CERT
teams learn to be creative and observant, to make the most of available resources
and people in increasing everyone's ability to make it through a disaster until
the arrival of emergency services and aid, whether that period lasts 3 days or
3 weeks or more. CERT
members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a
more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Examples
include obtaining a ham radio license and radio training, to assisting in communications
during local and regional emergencies, seeking advanced first aid and CPR training
through the Red Cross or other agency providing support training to CERT members,
and by becoming a member of a Volunteer Fire Corps unit which is available through
several Sonoma County Fire departments or districts. To
reinforce the basic skill set and learn obtain more advanced training, the Sonoma
CERT Coordinating Committee, made up of agency coordinators and representatives
from the Sonoma County Cities, the County of Sonoma, the Sonoma County Chapter
of the American Red Cross, and the Sonoma County Volunteer Center, will be producing
opportunities for practical and leadership training throughout the year. |
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Interested
in learning more? Check
our Events page for information on upcoming informational
meetings, and contact the CERT coordinator
in your area. VIDEOS Sonoma
County CERT - check
out footage of one of our skills refresher/training Challenges and one of our
CERT teams. First
CERT Class, Tracy, CA Benicia
Emergency Response Team (BERT) 2008 Drill California
Citizen Corps (CCC) CERT
Los Angeles same video as CCC, with links to lots of information and
materials CitizenCorps.gov.
Though CitizenCorps, you can take some online classes including: IS-22:
Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness IS-317:
Intro into Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) |
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CERT
in the Local News Sebastopol
embraces disaster preparedness,
The Press Democrat, June 11, 2009 The
Real First Responders, The Bohemian, March 18, 2009 SoCoCERT
Email List
An
email list just for Sonoma County CERT members! To join, please check visit the
list's site. | | |
Other
Preparedness Partners |  | CaliforniaVolunteers'
WE Prepare site helps families create customized disaster plans. |
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