Background checks will be conducted for all members who are interested in the CERT program. Moreover, some members of the team may take more in-depth training such as AED training, basic first aid, and CPR.
Below is a link to the Independent Study (IS) Courses:
Independent Study (IS) Courses
CERT Basic Training
The basic CERT training course is required for volunteers who want to become a certified member of our team with the option to be deployed during an emergency. The training will include those components necessary to get you started and become capable of performing basic CERT functions. Each participant must complete in-person practical training to receive their CERT course completion certificate. The training will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 PM for a duration of three weeks with a disaster simulation exercise on the final Saturday. This training course is available twice a year.
Even if you aren’t ready to become a certified member or aren’t wanting to deploy during an emergency, our CERT basic training course is available for anyone to take! The classes follow standard models developed by FEMA and are offered in cities across the United States. Aimed at equipping our community to prepare for and respond to disasters relevant to our area, this model teaches neighborhood residents how to help each other in the first few minutes, hours or days following a disaster – before emergency responders are able to render professional help.
CERT Course Content
The basic CERT course will include those components necessary to get you started and become capable of performing basic CERT functions. Each participant must complete in-person practical training to receive their CERT course completion certificate. The training will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9 PM for a duration of three weeks with a disaster simulation exercise on the final Saturday. This training course is available twice a year.
What will you learn?
- Disaster Preparedness: How to prepare yourselves and your neighborhoods for the various hazards that may occur.
- Team Organization and Disaster Psychology: Addresses organization and management principles necessary for a CERT to operate successfully. Covers critical incident stress for victims as well as emergency workers.
- Medical Operations: How to conduct triage, establish medical treatment areas, and provide basic first aid for victims.
- Damage Assessment: How to rapidly assess damage employing a standardized format used throughout the county.
- Fire Suppression: How to use fire extinguishers and other equipment to suppress small fires.
- Light Search and Rescue: How to perform light search and rescue planning, techniques, and rescuer safety.
- Terrorism and CERT: Describe the action to take following a suspected terrorist incident.
- Disaster Simulation: A small-scale disaster simulation, located at the City of Tacoma Fire Department Training Center (2124 Marshall Ave, Tacoma, WA 98421), where you get to put the skills you learned throughout the course to the test – with the help of trained professionals (firefighters, police officers, utility professionals, and more).
*Participants must attend all days and times in order to receive final certificate of course completion.