The City of El Segundo Fire Department's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was established in March of 2000. The CERT program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in the community. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

The CERT course is taught in the community by a cadre of experienced first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by the state training office for emergency management. The CERT Program is managed by the Emergency Services Division of the El Segundo Fire Department.

Classes begin in the Spring of 2006

(each session is approximately 3 hours - 24 hours total)

Session One: Disaster Preparedness
Addresses hazards to which people are vulnerable in our community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during, and after a disaster. As the session progresses, the instructor begins to explore an expanded response role for civilians in that they should begin to consider themselves disaster workers. Since they will want to help their family members and neighbors, this training can help them operate in a safe and appropriate manner. The CERT concept and organization are discussed.

Session Two: Basic Fire Suppression
Involves the basics of fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards, and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, sizing up the situation, controlling utilities, and extinguishing a small fire. This training culminates in a field trip to the Chevron Oil Refinery's Live Fire Training Center and hands-on training using fire extinguishers and putting out live fires under the supervision of trained fire personnel.

Session Three: Disaster Medical Operations I
Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding, and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.

Session Four: Disaster Medical Operations II
Covers evaluating patients by doing a head-to-toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area, performing basic first aid, and practicing in a safe and sanitary manner.

Session Five: Light Search and Rescue Operations
Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques, and most important, rescuer safety. This session is conducted at El Segundo Fire Station #2 and students will practice hands-on practical training learning how to free someone trapped in light debris.

Session Six: Disaster Psychology and Team Organization
Learn how to recognize signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and worker.

Session Eight: Course Overview and Disaster Simulation
Participants practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in disaster scenario drills.