The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for 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. Learn how to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
Over the course of the CERT program, you will learn the most up-to-date information through hands-on training in basic disaster preparedness, use of a fire extinguisher, disaster medical care, first aid training, search, and rescue techniques, and neighborhood team building. Participants of the program will learn lifesaving skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.
Community Emergency Response Team In Action Video
Location Information:
We are excited that you will be joining us for the CERT Basic training academy. Thursday evening sessions will be held at our Fire Station 1 classroom, located behind the fire house. Please park out on Santa Monica Avenue.The final session on the Saturday will be held at our Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3 Warehouse.
We will start promptly, so plan to arrive a few minutes early to park, register and get settled in. We will have water and snacks available. For the Saturday session, we will take a half hour lunch break, and while there are a couple of restaurants located near the training site, you might want to bring your lunch with you. We have access to a refrigerator if you need to keep your food cold.
Address: Thursday evening sessions: Menlo Park Fire Station 1 Classroom,
300 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park
Saturday final session: Urban Search and Rescue Warehouse,
2470 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto.
The course will be taught every other Saturday over six weeks. Thursday sessions will be held from 6:00-9:00 pm and the Saturday session will be held from 9:00 am- 4:30 pm. You must attend all sessions in order to graduate as a CERT member.
Thursday, September 26 - Disaster Preparedness (Unit 1)
- CERT Organization (Unit 2)
Thursday, October 3 - Disaster Medical Operations (Units 3-4)
Thursday, October 10 - Disaster Psychology (Unit 5)
- Fire Safety and Utility Controls (Unit 6)
Thursday, October 17 - Terrorism and Hazardous Materials Safety (Unit 8)
- CERT Communications and Incident Command
Thursday, October 24 - Light Search and Rescue (Unit 7)
Saturday, October 26 - Course Review & Final Exam (Unit 9)
- Disaster Simulation
Class size is limited, registration is required. Minimum age to attend is 13 years old. Those ages 13-14 must attend with a parent, ages 15 and older may attend on their own.
