Training Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
The Mission of Pasadena Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team is to prepare the community in anticipation of incidents or disasters by providing training, planning, resources, and community outreach. When called upon in a disaster, we respond immediately using our skills and knowledge to deliver the greatest good for the greatest number of people
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept started with the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985. The department recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster. Accordingly, the LAFD decided that some basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would improve the ability of citizens to survive until first responders or other citizens could arrive. The LAFD training program proved to be so beneficial that FEMA adopted the concept and made the program available to communities nationwide.
Pasadena CERT starts with the approved 17.5 FEMA class and builds on it. The course emphasizes regional hazards and includes ample time for hands-on training so participants can gain critical life-saving skills.
Light Search & Rescue Fire Safety
- Objectives of interior and exterior search and rescue
- Scene size-up
- Three main rescue functions
- Understanding effective fire suppression
- Three elements of a fire
- Different classes, or types of fire
Triage & Disaster Medical Operations
- The three killers: what to look for and how to treat them
- Triage – 6 steps in a disaster environment
- 5 functions of disaster medical operations
- Establishing treatment areas
- Patient assessment and first aid treatment
Disaster Preparedness, CERT Organization & More
- CERTs responsibilities in a disaster
- Three kinds of disasters
- Preparing for hazards in your community
- The keys to CERT effectiveness
- Components of Incident Command System (ICS)
- Documenting and communicating
- Learn more about Disaster Preparedness
Who Can Join Cert?
Anyone in good health and with a sense of community can become a part of CERT. If you become a CERT member, you will learn about important life-safety support techniques. You will, however, not be expected to place yourself in dangerous situations, either in the training or when a disaster strikes.
A key factor for CERT members is the ability to spontaneously organize and activate themselves in the event of a major disaster. If there is a significant earthquake, phones and other communications channels may be interrupted. CERT members will know where to go, how to organize their efforts, and will get to work without any specific order being issued.A CERT member’s first responsibility is to his or herself, then his or her family, and finally his or her neighborhood.
While CERTs are a valuable asset in emergency response, CERTs are not trained to perform all of the functions or respond to the same degree as professional responders. CERTs are a bridge to professional responders until they are able to arrive.