CERT Curriculum

An online course, "Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams", IS- 317, is an independent study course that serves as an introduction to CERT for those wanting to complete training or as a refresher for current team members. It does not substitute for the hands-on skills taught in the classroom version of the course, but it provides an excellent knowledge base for the lecture portion of the training.

The new CERT participant materials are available from FEMA in Microsoft Word document format. The student manual is now laid out in a more conventional page orientation, rather than the landscape orientation of the older version.

Class 1: Disaster Preparedness

Class Objectives:

• Describe the types of hazards that are most likely to affect your home and community.
• Describe the functions of CERTs and their role in immediate response.
• Identify steps to prepare yourself for a disaster.

Class 2: Disaster Fire Suppression

Class Objectives:

• Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in your home or workplace.
• While working as a team, apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish a burning liquid.
• Demonstrate appropriate utility shut-off techniques.

Class 3: Disaster Medical Operations Part 1

Class Objectives:

• Identify the "killers."
• Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock.
• Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions.

Class 4: Disaster Medical Operations Part 2

Class Objectives:

• Perform head-to-toe patient assessments.
• Select and set up a treatment area.
• Employ appropriate care for wounds. Identify and treat fractures, sprains, and strains.
• Take appropriate measures to maintain the public health.

Class 5: Light Search and Rescue Operations

Class Objectives:

• Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
• Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
• While working as a team, use safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
• Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue.

Class 6: Disaster Psychology/Team Organization

Class Objectives:

• Describe the post-disaster emotional environment.
• Identify the steps that rescuers can take to relieve their own stress and that of disaster survivors.
• Describe CERT organization and documentation requirements.

Class 7: Disaster Exercise

Class Objectives:

• In a mock disaster setting with simulated hazards and victims, operate as a team to apply the skills and knowledge gained from classes 1 - 6.

In addition to all the information provided in these classes, new information related to terrorism has been incorporated into the curriculum and may be taught in conjunction with any of the classes. For those who have older textbooks, you can download the new Terrorism Module from FEMA to supplement your existing materials..