Basic CERT Training

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH

Free Training – Thursdays & Mondays, September 7, 2023 thru October 02, 2023, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

**See below for schedule, description of Units, and to register for the course.  

***Deadline to register is Friday, September 1, 2023***

Elma CERT, Inc. has offered the FEMA Basic CERT course every Spring and Fall to the public. After a break of 3 1/2 years due to the Pandemic, Elma CERT is excited to announce we are holding a course in September to honor National Preparedness Month. The CERT course consists of nine (9) units scheduled Monday and Thursday evenings, 6:30pm – 9:30pm. This Septembers course will be held at the Spring Brook Fire District Firehall located at 70 Pound Road (corner of Old Pound Rd.) Elma, NY.

Elma CERT, Inc. uses subject matter experts to teach each class.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

The CERT Basic Training teaches citizens what to do before, during, and after the hazards their communities may face.

Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, participants:

  • Learn team building skills
  • Learn how to use a fire extinguisher with live fire training.
  • Learn basic first aid skills and light search and rescue techniques.
  • Learn organizational processes and team work.
  • Learn about psychological effects and treatment of disasters
  • Learn an awareness of Terrorism

Below is the schedule and a description of each topic:

  • Thursday, September 07, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructor Edward R. Sauer – Former Emergency Manager, Paramedic, Firefighter
  • Part 1. Disaster Preparedness: How everyone in a community has a role in disaster preparedness.  CERT organization, disaster and non-disaster roles, and laws that protect disaster workers from liability. The potential effects of extreme emergencies and disasters on electrical service; emergency services; telephone communication; transportation; and availability of food, water, shelter, and fuel. How you can prepare in advance to improve the quality of your survival and to reduce the damage from hazards.
  • Instructor Michelle Kerr – Deputy Director of Police Communications (RET)
  • Part 2.CERT Organization: How to organize and deploy CERT resources according to CERT organizational principles, How to conduct the continual data-gathering and evaluation process at the scene of a disaster or emergency, How to protect your own safety and your buddy’s during search and rescue and Strategies for documenting situation and resource status.
  • Monday, September 11, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructor PatiAine Guzinski – Training Coordinator, Office of Public Health Preparedness
  • Part 3. Disaster Medical Operations Part I: How to assist by controlling bleeding, maintaining normal body temperature, opening an airway, providing comfort to patients, and applying basic first aid care for a number of injuries.
  • Thursday, September 14, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30p
  • Instructor PatiAine Guzinski – Training Coordinator, Office of Public Health Preparedness
  • Part 4. Disaster Medical Operations Part II: How to assist first responders in responding to mass casualty incidents, Major functions of disaster medical operations, Types of medical treatment areas, How to perform a head-to-toe assessment to identify and treat injuries and How to maintain hygiene and sanitation.
  • Monday, September 18, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructor: Bonita S. Frazer – MS, CTTS, FAAETS President of Emeritus WNY Law Enforcement Helpline, Inc.
  • Part 5. Disaster Psychology: The psychological impact a disaster has on rescuers and survivors, and lessons on providing components of “psychological first aid.” and Steps volunteers can take individually and as part of a CERT before, following, and after a disaster.
  • Thursday, September 21, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructor: TBD
  • Part 6. Fire Safety & Utility Controls: How fire occurs, classes of fire, and choosing the correct means to extinguish each type of fire, How to evaluate fires, assess firefighting resources and determine a course of action. How to identify types of portable fire extinguishers and how to operate them, How to decide if you should attempt to extinguish a fire; how to approach and extinguish a fire safely. How to identify potentially dangerous materials in storage, in transit, and in your home. How to identify potential fire and utility hazards in the home and workplace and how to implement successful fire prevention strategies.
  • Monday, September 25, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructor Gary Schurr Lieutenant Buffalo Fire Department (RET)
  • Part 7. Light Search and Rescue Operations: How to size up the situation in which the search and rescue teams will operate, How to search systematically for disaster survivors and Safe techniques for lifting, leveraging, cribbing, and survivor removal.
  • Thursday, September 28, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructor Jeffrey Hartman – Chief of Operations Erie County Sheriff’s Office
  • Part 8. Terrorism and CERT:  Defining terrorism, including the goals and tactics of some terrorist groups, and detailing how to respond when an active shooter is in your vicinity, The eight signs of terrorism and how to report suspicious activity, Steps to take to be prepared at home, work, and in your neighborhood and Identifying some basic guidelines during a Hazmat or CBRNE event.
  • Monday, October 02, 2023 6:30pm – 9:30pm
  • Instructors – Elma CERT, Inc.
  • Part 9. Course Review and Disaster Simulation: A Review of Key Points from the Course, a Final Exam and a Final Exercise

During each session participants are encouraged to bring safety equipment (gloves, goggles, mask) and disaster supplies (bandages, flashlight, dressings) which will be used during the session. By doing this for each session, participants are building a disaster response kit of items that they will need during a disaster.

Please contact us to register or with any questions at Training@elmacert.org. If registering, include your name, phone and email contact information. We will contact you approximately one week prior to the start of classes.