Community Emergency Response Team — Lancaster County Emergency Services

The Lancaster County Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) is an organization formed by community members to support Lancaster County Emergency Services, and partner agencies, in managing emergencies. This program is part of the federal Citizen Corps programs and uses standardized training topics and materials based upon the national curriculum. Members of the C.E.R.T. program are trained in disaster preparedness, fire safety, medical triage and basic medical care, light search and rescue, damage assessment, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness. Those who complete the training are issued equipment to allow members to assist in an emergency.

Upcoming training events can be found on our events page.

Training (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program is approximately 20 hours and includes the following modules:

Disaster Preparedness – 2.5 hours

Introductions and Overview 
Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities
Hazards and Their Potential Impact 
Impact on the Infrastructure
Home and Workplace Preparedness 
Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation
CERT Disaster Response
Protection for Disaster Workers 
Additional Training for CERTs 
Unit Summary

Fire Safety and Utility Controls – 2.5 hours

Introduction and Unit Overview
Fire Chemistry
Fire and Utility Hazards
CERT Sizeup
Fire Sizeup Considerations 
Firefighting Resources 
Fire Suppression Safety
Hazardous Materials 
Exercise: Suppressing Small Fires
Unit Summary

Disaster Medical Operations – 5.5 hours

Introduction and Unit Overview
Treating Life-Threatening Conditions
Triage
Public Health Considerations 
Functions of Disaster Medical Operations 
Establishing Medical Treatment Areas 
Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments
Treating Burns
Wound Care
Treating Fractures, Dislocations, Sprains, and Strains
Nasal Injuries
Treating Cold-Related Injuries
Treating Heat-Related Injuries
Bites and Stings
Unit Summary

Light Search and Rescue – 2.5 hours

Introduction and Unit Overview
Safety During Search and Rescue Operations
Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations
Conducting Rescue Operations
Unit Summary

CERT Organization – 1.5 hours

Introduction and Unit Overview 
CERT Organization 
CERT Mobilization
Documentation 
Activity: ICS Functions 
Activity: Tabletop Exercise 
Unit Summary

Disaster Psychology – 1.0 hour

Introduction and Unit Overview 
Disaster Trauma 
Team Well-Being 
Working with Survivors’ Trauma 
Unit Summary

Terrorism and CERT – 2.5 hours

Introduction and Unit Overview 
What Is Terrorism? 
Terrorist Targets 
Terrorist Weapons 
CBRNE Indicators 
Preparing at Home, Work, and in Your Neighborhood 
CERTs and Terrorist Incidents 
Activity: Applying CERT Principles to a Suspected Terrorist Incident 
Unit Summary

Exam and Exercise – 2.5 hours

Introduction and Unit Overview
Course Review 
Final Exam 
Disaster Simulation Exercise
Critique and Summary

Teen CERT

Equipment

Upon completion of training, CERT members receive equipment to be used in an emergency. This equipment includes:

16″ CERT Green Backpack with CERT Logo
CERT ANSI Class 2 – All Weather Polyester Safety Vest with CERT Logo
CERT Hard Hat Helmet in CERT Green with CERT Logo
Pair of Leather Work Gloves
Chemical Splash Goggles
N95 Filtration Mask
Pair of Nitrile Exam Gloves
Rayovac Stainless Steel LED Flashlight includes batteries and a lifetime warranty
12 Hour Chemical Light Stick
Yellow Lead Free Marking Crayon
Emergency Survival Blanket
10″ Locking Pliers
Emergency Whistle with Lanyard
Roll of Duct Tape
Dynarex 2″ x 2″ Sterile Gauze Pads
Dynarex 4″ x 4: Sterile Gauze Pads
Dynarex 2″ Gauze Rolls
Morrison Medical 12″ Disposable Splint
Dynarex Triangular Bandage
Rite in the Rain CERT All-Weather Forms Book
Rite in the Rain CERT All-Weather Field Operating Guide

Team Requirements

CERT members volunteers to assist their community during emergencies and disasters. As persons entrusted to public service, members must meet the following criteria:
• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be of good moral character (background checks may be required)
• Be able to perform the duties for which they are assigned (many opportunities are available with varying degrees of physical ability required)
• Be willing to serve the community on short notice and potentially for long duration