Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Providence Community Emergency Response Team (P-CERT) volunteers could potentially assist in any of the following activities; Severe Weather Monitoring, Emergency Operations Center Support, Communications, Emergency Preparedness Education, Point of Distribution Management, Traffic Control, and Emergency Scene Lighting.
Mission
The mission of the CERT Program is to educate people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and train them in basic disaster response skills including but not limited to; fire safety, light search and rescue, first aid, disaster medical operations, team organization and leadership.
Volunteer Responsibilities & Training
During a major emergency, where first responders are unable to respond immediately, CERT team are asked to assist.
The CERT training for community groups is usually delivered in 2 1/2 hour sessions, one evening a week over a 7 week period. The training consists of the following:
The CERT training for community groups is usually delivered in 2 1/2 hour sessions, one evening a week over a 7 week period. The training consists of the following:
- DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during, and after a disaster. As the session progresses, the instructor begins to explore an expanded response role for civilians in that they should begin to consider themselves disaster workers. Since they will want to help their family members and neighbors, this training can help them operate in a safe and appropriate manner. The CERT concept and organization are discussed as well as applicable laws governing volunteers in that jurisdiction.
- DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION: Briefly covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, sizing up the situation, controlling utilities, and extinguishing a small fire.
- DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS PART I: Participant
practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
- DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II: Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner.
- LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS: Participants learn about scene size-up, search and rescue techniques and most important; rescuer safety.
- DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY AND TEAM ORGANIZATION: This portion of training covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker. It addresses CERT team organization, leadership techniques, volunteer management principles and the need for documentation.
- COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION: To complete the (P-CERT) training, all members review their knowledge through a take home examination. Finally, they practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions during a disaster simulation training event.
Qualifications
- U.S. Citizen
- 18 years of age
- Valid Rhode Island / US Driver's License
- Able to pass basic background check
- Speak English as a Primary Language, bi-lingual is a plus