Get CERT-ified!

Emergency personnel cannot always immediately access our neighborhood following a major disaster. However, you can make a lifesaving difference by learning the necessary skills needed to survive the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood or other major disaster in a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) eight-week course offered by the Fort Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Department.

CERT is an eight-week course, offered at no charge to City of Fort Lauderdale residents, that provides hands-on training that will enable you to initiate and implement learned disaster rescue techniques, which can be utilized until emergency personnel are able to reach you.

CERT course participants learn life-saving skills such as fire suppression, patient evaluation, search and rescue and basic emergency medical care for everyday situations.

Upon completing the course, CERT graduates are often assigned to neighborhood teams where they play an important role in community safety. Don’t wait for a major disaster to learn the skills you need. Now is the time to gather up your neighbors, get CERT-ified and create your own neighborhood team that will enable you to respond immediately to an emergency situation with confidence and skill. Working together as a team can make a significant difference in your survival.

Eight-Week CERT Class Topics

Introduction/Disaster Preparation
Introductions/Course Objectives/Overview of City’s Emergency Response Planning

Disaster Psychology/CERT Team Organization
Disaster Emotional Environment/CERT Team structure and mobilization

Basic Fire Suppression
Fire behavior and the practical use of portable fire extinguishers

Disaster Medical Operations I
Patient assessment - Basic first aid


Disaster Medical Operations II
Basic first aid - Triage

Terrorism and CERT
NICE Weapons and Characteristics-Target Selection-Safety

Light Search and Rescue
Search and rescue operations and safety precautions

Review/Graduation

 

Eight-Week CERT Class Topics