What is CERT?

Community Emergency Response Team

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a FEMA credentialed course that educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing first responders to focus on more complex tasks.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to Virtual CERT

    • Introduction From The Founder

    • Tell Us About Yourself

    • Introduction to Course and URA's CERT Program Manager
  • 2

    Unit 1 | Disaster Preparedness

    • Unit 1 Overview

    • Section 2 | Community Preparedness Roles and Responsibilities

    • Section 3 | Hazards and Their Potential Impact

    • Section 4 | Home and Workplace Preparedness

    • Section 5 | Reducing the Impacts of Hazards Through Mitigation

    • Section 6 | CERT Disaster Response

    • Section 7 | Additional Training for CERT Volunteers

    • Unit 1 Summary
  • 3

    Unit 2 | CERT Organization

    • Unit 2 Overview

    • Section 2 | CERT Organization

    • Section 3 | CERT Mobilization

    • Section 4 | Documentation

    • Unit 2 Summary
  • 4

    Unit 3 | Disaster Medical Operations 1

    • Unit 3 Overview

    • Section 2 | Treating Life-Threatening Conditions

    • Section 3 | Basic First-Aid Care

    • Unit 3 Summary

    • Tourniquet Application

    • Controlling Bleeding

    • Maintaining Body Temperature

    • Signs of Shock

    • Checking Radial Pulse

    • Mobilizing Extremities

    • EpiPen

    • Jaw Thrust
  • 5

    Unit 4 | Disaster Medical Operations 2

    • Unit 4 Overview

    • Section 2 | Mass Casualty

    • Section 3 | Functions of DMOs

    • Section 4 | Establishing Medical Treatment Areas

    • Section 5 | Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments

    • Section 6 | Public Health Consequences

    • Unit 4 Summary

    • Head-to-Toe Demonstration
  • 6

    Unit 5 | Disaster Psychology

    • Unit 5 Overview

    • Section 2 | Disaster Reactions

    • Section 3 | Self Care and Team Well Being

    • Section 4 | Working with Survivors' Emotional Responses

    • Unit 5 Summary
  • 7

    Unit 6 | Fire Safety and Utility Control

    • Unit 6 Overview

    • Section 2 | Fire Chemistry

    • Section 3 | Fire Size-Up Considerations

    • Section 4 | Firefighting Resources

    • Section 5 | Fire Suppression Safety

    • Section 6 | Fire and Utility Hazards

    • Section 7 | Hazardous Materials

    • Unit 6 Summary

    • Fire Demonstration
  • 8

    Unit 7 | Light Search and Rescue

  • 9

    Unit 8 | Terrorism

    • Unit 8 Overview

    • Section 2 | Terrorist Goals and Tactics

    • Section 3 | Preparing Your Community

    • Section 4 | Active Shooter Situations

    • Section 5 | Until Help Arrives

    • Section 6 | Hazmat and CBRNE

    • Unit 8 Summary