City of Beaverton Emergency Management Volunteer Training



CERT Basic Training

The foremost reason for CERT training is to give people the decision-making and physical skills needed to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors, and associates. While people will respond to others in need without the training, the goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. The following information provides a breakdown of each class module, giving you a better understanding of the skills required and the training provided.

The fact that no one can predict what might happen during and after a catastrophic event is the reason for this program's broad spectrum of training and preparedness. Unlike a first aid class or a wilderness survival course covering specific points of care and preparation, CERT training will cover many of these points and introduce further skills typically not included in most other training courses. The course concludes with a simulated realistic disaster scenario, allowing the participant to use the skills learned and apply essential hands-on techniques to respond to and manage emergencies.

After graduating from the basic course, CERT members will have the opportunity to keep their skills fresh through advanced training.

Course Curriculum

Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness

    • Introductions and Overview
    • Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities
    • Hazards and Their Potential Impact
    • Impact on the Infrastructure
    • Home and Workplace Preparedness
    • Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation
    • CERT Disaster Response
    • Protection for Disaster Workers
    • Additional Training for CERTS

Unit 2: CERT Organization

  • Principles of On-Scene Management
  • CERT Application of On-Scene Management
  • Incident Command System – ICS
  • CERT Mobilization
  • CERT On-Scene Size-up and Rescuer Safety
  • Documentation Form and Flow

Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations - Part 1

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Treating Life-Threatening Conditions
  • Triage
  • Unit Summary

Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations - Part 2

    • Public Health Considerations
    • Functions of Disaster Medical Operations
    • Establishing Treatment Areas
    • Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments
    • Treating Burns
    • Wound Care
    • Treating Fractures, Sprains, and Strains
    • Splinting
    • Nasal Injuries
    • Treating Hypothermia

Unit 5 Pt. 1: Disaster Psychology

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Team Well-Being
  • Working with Survivors of trauma

Unit 5 Pt. 2: Access and Functional Needs

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • People with Access Needs
  • People with Functional Needs
  • Infants and Children
  • Pregnant and Nursing Women
  • Seniors
  • People with Limited English proficiency

Unit 6: Light Fire Suppression and Utility Management

  • Introductions and Overview
  • Fire Chemistry
  • Fire Size-up Considerations
  • Firefighting Resources
  • Fire Suppression Safety
  • Fire and Utility Hazards
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Fire Extinguisher Practice

Unit 7: Light Search and Rescue Operations Pt. 1

  • Introductions and Overview
  • Safety During Search and Rescue Operations
  • Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations
  • Terrorism and CERT

Unit 8: Light Search and Rescue Operations Pt. 2

  • Introductions and Overview
  • Conducting Rescue Operations

Unit 9: Course Review and Disaster Simulation

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Course Review
  • Disaster Simulation
  • Exercise Critique and Summary
  • Graduation

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