The CERT course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders in three hour sessions, one evening per week for seven consecutive weeks. Addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in their community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families should take before, during and after a disaster. Briefly covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fires suppressions strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of a fire extinguisher, sizing up the situation, and extinguishing the fire.
Participants use a fire extinguisher and put out a fire as part of their training.
Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock. They also learn the principles of triage and how to conduct triage evaluations. 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. Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-iup, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety. Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker.