HOW CAN I JOIN?
If you want to volunteer your services and become trained to protect yourself, families and community from disasters; natural or man-made... Become a CERT Team member.
To become a CERT member you must be at least 18 years of age and complete the classroom training. To register, click below for the form to fill out. The form can be printed out and mailed to address on the form.
Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (Independent-Study)
"Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams", IS-317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members. It has six modules with topics that include an Introduction to CERT, Fire Safety, Hazardous Material and Terrorist Incidents, Disaster Medical Operations, and Search and Rescue. It takes between six and eight hours to complete the course.
The IS-317 can be taken by anyone interested in CERT. However, to become a CERT volunteer, one must complete the classroom training (see below) offered by your local government agency such as the emergency management agency, fire or police department. Contact your local emergency manager to learn about the local education and training opportunities available to you. Let this person know about your interest in taking CERT training. If you are from Lower Township, NJ, click here for additional contact information.
The course is hosted on the Citizens Corps Website.
Take Introduction Course IS-317
Classroom Training Overview
The CERT training consists of 20 hours of instruction over an eight-week period. Classes are taught by emergency responders, including firefighters, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel from your community.
Session I: Disaster Preparedness - Introduction to disasters specific to the community, and the impact of disaster on infrastructure.
Session II: Disaster Fire Suppression - Identifying and reducing potential fire hazards and basic fire suppression.
Session III: Disaster Medical Operations Part I - Treatment strategies for life-threatening conditions and principles of triage
Session IV: Disaster Medical Operations Part II - Head-to-toe patient assessment and treatment for various injuries.
Session V: Light Search & Rescue Operations - Techniques for sizing up and searching, lifting, cribbing and removing victims; rescue safety.
Session VI: Disaster Psychology & Team Organization - The post-disaster emotional environment will be discussed. CERT organization, decision making and documentation.
Session VII: Terrorism - A brief overview of terrorism weapons. Identifying targets in an area and discuss time/distance/shielding.
Session VIII: Final Exercise - Disaster Simulation realistic to your community