Frequently asked questions about CERT

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team, an initiative that came out of President Bush’s call in 2002 to Americans to volunteer service to their country.
CERT is one of the primary training initiatives to prepare the public to meet the challenge of a natural or man-made calamity or disaster in their community.
CERT is one of five programs that fall under the umbrella of The Citizen Corps Program (CCP) which was created to spearhead this effort to harness the power of every individual through education, training and volunteer service. Other CC Programs include Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), Fire Corps and Medical Reserve Corps.
The program envisions that trained citizens who volunteer can make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds.
Hundreds of communities in all 50 states and Puerto Rico have established CERTs. Minnesota introduced CERT training in 2003.
As of January 2007, 25 Minnesota communities offer CERT training.

CERT training promotes partnership between emergency responders in a community and its residents by providing them skills that can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until first responders arrive.
Emergency personnel will train Minneapolis residents, or people who work in Minneapolis on basic response skills; CERT-trained members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area.
If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the communitys professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying their basic response and organizational skills until the first responders arrive.
CERT members maintain and refine their skills by participating in exercises, refresher and advanced training.
CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve community emergency preparedness.
CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies.

An understanding of the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
The function of CERT and the roles CERT volunteers in an immediate response situation.
Ability to identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies.
Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating shock.
Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
To perform head-to-toe medical assessments.
Selection and set up a treatment area.
Basic treatments for various wounds.
Identification of planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue operations.
Common techniques for searching a structure.
Safe techniques for debris removal and victim extraction.
Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue.
Recognize acts of terrorism.

Any resident over 18 with a desire to develop the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and respond to a disaster.
Condo/Townhouse/Apartment Associations
Neighborhood Groups	Small and large Businesses
Communities of Faith	School Staff

Disaster Preparedness	Fire Safety
Light Search and Rescue	Team Organization
Disaster Psychology	CERT and Terrorism
Disaster Medical Operations-Triage and Treating Life Threatening Injuries
Disaster Medical Operations-Assessment, Treatment and Hygiene
Final Exercise	Final Test and Graduation
Instruction includes lecture and practical hands-on involvement including the use of fire extinguishers and splinting and bandaging victim’s injuries.

The Mayor and the Minneapolis City Council recognize the value of residents being prepared for emergencies and disasters.
Community-based preparedness planning allows residents to help themselves, their families and neighbors in emergencies and disasters until first responders arrive.
CERT training will help residents to better respond to those affected by emergencies and disasters until the arrival of first responders and prevent these residents from becoming victims themselves.

Minneapolis schedules classes at various times throughout the year, access the CERT training calendar to view the list of scheduled classes.
Most sessions are held at the Minneapolis Fire Departments Training Tower located at 25 37 ^th Ave NE, Minneapolis.

Contact Minneapolis CERT Coordinator Susan Ude at 612-581-9624 or e-mail susan.ude@minneapolismn.gov. If you know the session you wish to attend, please state the start date of that particular CERT training session.

Last updated Feb. 27, 2012

Accessibility menu