The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and
implemented by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985.
They recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during
the early stages of a catastrophic disaster. Accordingly, LAFD decided
that some basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would
improve the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other
assistance could arrive. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987
underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California.
Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet immediate
emergency needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness
Division with the purpose of training citizens in the CERT concept. As
of 1993, more than 8,000 people and 225 teams had been trained.

The training program LAFD initiated proved to be so beneficial that the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) felt the concept and the
program should be made available to communities nationwide. The
Emergency Management Institute (EMI), in cooperation with the LAFD, has
expanded the CERT materials to make them applicable to all hazards. The
goal of the training continues to be preparing people to help people.
Seeing the value of CERT, FEMA is committed to supporting the training
of local CERT teams across the nation. These teams too can assist with
saving lives and protecting property in the event of a major disaster.

Those who benefit from the training should thank the LAFD for their
vision and initiative in developing CERT, and their willingness to
support FEMA's effort to share this program with communities across the
nation.

Further appreciation is given to the City of Oakland Fire Department,
the City of San Francisco Fire Department, and the City of Colorado
Springs Fire Department for their assistance in preparing the training
materials. Technical review performed by Jim O'Brien, Certified
Emergency Manager, Clark County Fire Department, Las Vegas, Nevada, and
Battalion Chief Chris Hunter, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department,
Fairfax County, Virginia.

**About Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training**

If available, emergency services personnel are the best trained and
equipped to handle emergencies and you should use them. However,
following a catastrophic disaster, you and the community may be on your
own for a period of time because of the size of the area affected, lost
communications, and unpassable roads.

CERT Training is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family,
and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because
emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone
immediately, you can make a difference by using the training in this
manual to save lives and protect property.

This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a
disaster when emergency services are not available. You will want to
help. With training and practice and by working as a team, you will be
able to do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster,
while protecting yourself from becoming a victim.

**CONTENTS PAGE**

Course Overview

Course Overview And Objectives IG i

Course Agenda IG iii

About The Course Materials IG iv

Instructor Responsibilities

Instructor Qualifications IG 1

Preparing To Train IG 1

Preparing The Classroom IG 2

Session I: Disaster Preparedness

Introduction And Welcome IG I-5

Recent Disasters IG I-6

Course Preview IG I-8

Disasters And Disaster Workers IG I-10

Participant Introductions IG I-12

Disaster Threats IG I-14

Impact On The Infrastructure IG I-29

Structural And Nonstructural Hazards IG I-32

Disaster Hazard Mitigation IG I-37

Session Summary IG I-57

Additional Materials IG I-59

Session II: Disaster Fire Suppression

Introduction And Session Overview IG II-5

Fire Chemistry IG II-7

Hazardous Materials IG II-10

Reducing Fire Hazards In Home And Office IG II-15

CERT Size-Up IG II-18

Firefighting Resources IG II-21

Fire Suppression Safety IG II-28

Exercise: Fire Suppression IG II-30

Session Summary IG II-33

Visuals IG II-34

Session III: Disaster Medical OperationsPart 1

Introduction And Session Overview IG III-4

Recognizing And Treating Life-Threatening Conditions IG III-7

Triage IG III-21

Session Summary IG III-29

Visuals IG III-31

**CONTENTS **(Continued)** PAGE**

Session IV: Disaster Medical OperationsPart 2

Introduction, Review, And Session Overview IG IV-4

Organization Of Disaster Medical Operations IG IV-7

Conducting Head-To-Toe Assessments IG IV-7

Establishing Treatment Areas IG IV-15

Treating Burns IG IV-19

Wound Care IG IV-23

Treating Fractures, Sprains, And Strains IG IV-27

Splinting IG IV-32

Treating Hypothermia IG IV-35

Treating Frostbite IG IV-36

Public Health Considerations IG IV-38

Session Summary IG IV-41

Visuals IG IV-44

Session V: Light Search And Rescue Operations

Introduction And Session Overview IG V-5

Planning IG V-8

Search And Rescue Size-Up IG V-13

Conducting Search Operations IG V-25

Conducting Rescue Operations IG V-30

Session Summary IG V-41

Additional Materials IG V-44

Visuals IG V-50

Session VI: Disaster Psychology And Team Organization

Introduction And Session Overview IG VI-4

Disaster Psychology IG VI-6

CERT Organization IG VI-13

CERT Decision Making IG VI-17

Documentation IG VI-20

Tabletop Exercise IG VI-23

Session Summary IG VI-24

Additional Materials IG VI-26

Visuals IG VI-33

Session VII: Course Review And Disaster Simulation

Introduction And Overview IG VII-5

Final Examination Review IG VII-5

Course Review IG VII-6

Disaster Simulation IG VII-11

Exercise Critique And Summary IG VII-14

Additional Materials IG VII-16