RFD: Community Engagement Response Team (CERT)

Photo of participants in a CERT training course.

What is CERT?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities.

Since 1993, CERT has trained the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. The ability of CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

CERT basic training

This covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available.

With training and practice, and by working as a team, you will be able to protect yourself and maximize your capability to help for the greatest number of people after a disaster. There are 9 core units to CERT basic training.

Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness
Unit 2: CERT Organization
Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations - Part 1
Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations - Part 2
Unit 5: Disaster Psychology
Unit 6: Fire Safety and Utility Controls
Unit 7: Light Search and Rescue Operations
Unit 8: Terrorism and CERT
Unit 9: Course Review, Final Exam and Disaster Simulation

Interested in learning more? Please click the button below to fill out the CERT training information form:

CERT training information form

Back to: Rochester Fire Department