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WHAT IS CERT?

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:

• manage utilities and put out small fires
• treat the three medical killers by opening airways
• controlling bleeding, and treating for shock
• provide basic medical aid
• search for and rescue victims safely
• organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective
• collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.

Mission

The mission of the Athens-Clarke County CERT program is to work in partnership with the County's public safety agencies and the community to produce a pool of citizens trained in disaster preparedness and response to provide leadership and coordination during an emergency and for immediate assistance to victims. Athens-Clarke County CERT members also assist with non-emergency projects to provide information and a safe environment for the Athens-Clarke County community.

CERT History

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, began promoting the CERT model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, for nationwide use in 1994. Since then, CERTs have been established in many communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico.

In January of 2002, during the State of the Union Address, President Bush called upon everyone living under the protection of the American Flag to volunteer 4000 hours during the course of one's life, to make America a better place. Be it by planting flowers or helping to prepare a community to respond more properly in times of large scale emergencies like September 11th. He spoke of the overwhelming volunteer spirit displayed on that horrible day and in the following months as well as a desire to give direction to those who do wish to be of use to their community and nation. To achieve this, he announced the creation of the USA Freedom Corps, the Citizen Corps Council, and, among other programs, the Community Emergency Response Team or CERT.

Athens-Clarke County CERT History

The Athens-Clarke County CERT Program was created in December of 2004 with the creation of the Athens-Clarke County Citizens Corps Council. The ACC CERT Program is unique from most other CERTs across the nation in that it is a collaborative effort between the Athens-Clarke County Fire and Emergency Services and the East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross. The ACC Fire and Emergency Services serves as the jurisdictional authority by securing and monitoring the grant funding from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. The East Georgia Chapter coordinates the program on behalf of both agencies.

Athens-Clarke County's inaugural CERT training began on February 8, 2005 with a class of twenty-five participants. The goal of the Athens-Clarke County CERT Program is to train at least 100 people each year.

Why the Formation of a CERT is Important

Following a major disaster, first responders who would normally provide fire and medical relief will not be able to meet the demand for these services due to such factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages. People may have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.

It is also expected that, under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

If we can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake, and people will spontaneously volunteer, what can government do to prepare citizens for this eventuality?

• First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services.
• Second, make clear an individual responsibility for mitigation and preparedness.
• Third, train them in needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number.
• Fourth, organize teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

That's where you come in!