Making a 

Difference with 

Teen CERT

Disaster response training for everyone.

About Teen CERT 

As a teen, there are probably a lot of things 

you’re told you can’t do. But there is one 

very important thing you can do: Learn 

to protect yourself, your family, and your 

friends in case of a disaster.

Community Emergency Response 

Team (CERT), sponsored by the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency, is a 

national program of volunteers trained 

in disaster preparedness and emergency 

response. Volunteers come from all ages 

and all walks of life, including teenagers 

like you!

Teen CERT training teaches you about the 

potential disasters that could affect your 

area and how to safely and responsibly 

respond to them.

Through Teen CERT you can serve your 

community and help take care of your 

school and home.

Learn More

To find out more about the training visit: 

www.citizencorps.gov/cert.

Here you can take the IS-317 training, 

Introduction to CERT. This independent 

study web-based training is interactive and 

will introduce you to CERT skills before you 

take the classroom training.

A Program of the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency

Insert Local CERT Program Contact Info Below: 

www.citizencorps.gov/cert

Interested in learning more and taking the 

training? Visit:
Why Join? 

Would you know what to do if an emergency 

struck your community? Your school? After a 

disaster, professional responders will be needed 

everywhere. In the chaotic aftermath of an 

emergency, who could help until professional 

responders arrive? Who could be the first 

person on-scene to step up? The answer: You. 

When you see a classmate’s or a teacher’s look 

of fear, you can be the support they need. 

You can direct friends to safety. You can help 

those who are hurt. You can be a leader in your 

school.

In most emergencies, the victim or a bystander 

provides the first immediate assistance. Joining 

Teen CERT teaches you how to respond when 

others look to you for help.

“Teen CERT is great. The training helps us learn skills 

and info that can be useful in many hazardous 

situations. I like knowing I can help people when 

disaster happens. People know I am trained and 

count on me to know what I am doing... I like that.” 

-Reid B.

“Not going to lie—I brag about being a member of 

Teen CERT. I mean, how many teens know how to 

respond to a disaster?” -Alissa S.

Who will look out for your friends more than you?

What You Learn

It takes about 20 hours to complete the CERT 

training. But the critical skills you learn will last your 

entire life. During the training you learn to:

☐ Extinguish small fires

☐ Conduct light search and rescue

☐ Assist those who are injured

☐ Set up medical treatment areas

☐ Assist emergency responders

☐ Identify and anticipate hazards

☐ Reduce fire hazards in the home and workplace

☐ Help reduce survivor stress

What You Do

We all have a role to play in ensuring the safety of 

our communities. No matter where you live, no 

matter who you are, no matter how you participate. 

What role will you play? Once you complete your 

CERT training, you can participate in or lead a 

variety of activities. Here are some examples:

During an emergency your Teen CERT could:

☐ Organize other volunteers

☐ Assist in evacuations

☐ Provide damage assessment information

☐ Provide shelter support

☐ Give assistance to other survivors

☐ Assist with crowd control

For year-round assistance to your school, your Teen 

CERT could:

☐ Participate in disaster drills and exercises

☐ Present fire safety education

☐ Address safety issues in the school

☐ Provide peer mentoring

☐ Assist in preparedness outreach