What is CERT?

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team

CERT is about preparedness! People being ready to help when needed. The CERT slogan is "Doing the Most Good for the Greatest Number."

CERT is the common sense approach to emergency situations where residents will be on their own for the first few hours, days and possibly weeks before professional first responders will be able to get to your location.

CERTs are residents making a difference!

CERT members are trained to manage disaster situations in a better way. We learn the use of fire extinguishers and how to extinguish small fires. We learn how to recognize and treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock. We also train to search and rescue victims in a safe manner while organizing spontaneous volunteers to also be effective.

The CERT program was started in California in 1985 due to loss of so many inexperienced volunteers' lives in the Mexico City earthquake. In 1993, CERT training was made available nationwide by FEMA.

SPOKANE COUNTY CERT

What is required to be a CERT member?

To become a CERT Member, you need to be trained and demonstrate you have the skills necessary to be prepared. Training includes:
BASIC TRAINING Class (3-day, 24 hour class)
- Introduction to CERT and Community Preparedness
- Fire Safety and Small Fire Suppression
- Disaster Medical One
- Disaster Medical Two
- Light Search and Rescue
- Incident Command and Psychological First Aid
- What is Terrorism
- Test and Exercises
COMPLETE APPROPRIATE POSITION TASK BOOKS (PTB) (Lists classes, experiences and skills to be demonstrated)
- CERT Volunteer PTB
- CERT Team Lead PTB (only for Team Leads)
PREPARATION
Preparation starts with having your home and family prepared in the event of a disaster - you can't help others if you are in need of help. See here for suggestions of how to prepare your home and family in the event of a disaster.
Once yourself and family are safe, you then need to be prepared to help others and carry out the duties of a CERT member. See here for suggestions for a go kit for an effective CERT member.
PARTICIPATION
All the training and preparation are useless if you don't practice and learn to work with other CERT team members. As one wag said, "A disaster is a poor time to be passing out business cards!" Participating in exercises and practice deployments gives you to opportunity to meet and get to know those you will work with in a real disaster.

Join Spokane County CERT

To join Spokane County CERT, you start by completing the Spokane County Volunteer Application. This gives CERT members Liability and Workers Comp coverage when they are participating in CERT activities.

After your application has been processed, you will be contacted by Spokane County CERT leadership who will work with you to:
- Access any special needs or abilities you may have
- Assign you to a local CERT team and
- Develop a training program

For more information or if you have any questions, please use the contact form below.