City of Merced, CA
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CERT Merced
Firefighters and Citizens Working Together to Build a Safer Merced
During the first few hours and days after a disaster strikes, emergency services could be overwhelmed, leaving families, neighborhoods and businesses on their own for hours or days.
After the devastating floods in January 2023, the City of Merced sought new solutions to meet this vital need. The community based program called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) would be revitalized. CERT Merced helps citizens become a part of the solution in their own community. The program capitalizes on the outpouring of volunteers who offer to help in disaster, such as the flooding in 2017, 2023, wildfires, and 9/11.
Merced Fire Department personnel train and empower citizens in safe, effective neighborhood CERT teams. CERT Merced instructors teach citizens to take life-saving actions to help their families, neighbors, businesses and communities get through the first few hours or days when emergency services are overwhelmed.
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS TRAINING (CERT)
The CERT program is a 24-hour commitment; it educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that are most likely to occur here in Merced and promotes basic disaster response skills development, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. CERT volunteers are trained to react safely, responsibly and effectively to emergency situations, as well as support their communities during non-emergency events as well. The CERT program aligns with a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely upon during disaster situations.
CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly and effectively to emergency situations, but they can also support their communities during non-emergency events as well. There are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide, with more than 600,000 individuals trained since CERT became a national program.
Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, CERT members:
- Learn how to safely respond to manmade and natural hazards
- Help organize basic disaster response
- Promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events
COURSE OVERVIEW
The CERT Basic Course is delivered by a team of Merced first responders, and other qualified instructors. It includes the following components:
- Disaster Preparedness:
- Addresses hazards specific to the community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during and after a disaster as well as an overview of CERT and local laws governing volunteers.
- Small Fire Suppression:
- Covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire.
- Medical Operations Part I:
- Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
- Medical Operations Part II:
- Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing basic first aid.
- Light Search and Recue Operations:
- Participants learn about search and recue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and rescuer safety.
- Psychology and Team Organization:
- Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and workers, and addresses CERT organization and management.
- Course Review and Disaster Simulation:
- Participants review and practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in a disaster activity.
CERT Training is free to those who live or work in Merced and is offered once a year in the Fall. As the time approaches, we will publish the dates for the CERT Training.
Attendance is required on all days to receive certification.
For more information, please contact Janet German, Program Manager at germanj@cityofmerced.org or call the Fire Department at (209) 385-6891.
Until the next CERT course in in your local neighborhood, get started by taking this free, self-paced online course from FEMA: