What is CERT?

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a training program that prepares you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a disaster. Following a major disaster, professional emergency responders may be overwhelmed or unable to reach areas isolated by road damage, flooding, or other obstruction. Utilities may be damaged. Essential supplies may be unavailable. People will need to rely on themselves and others for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. By getting trained in CERT, you will have the skills to help emergency responders save lives and protect property.

As a member of a CERT team, you can respond to disasters, participate in drills and exercises, and take additional training. CERT teams are known and trusted resources to emergency responders and their communities.

How does CERT help the community?

In addition to supporting emergency responders during a disaster, the CERT program builds strong working relationships between emergency responders and the people they serve. CERT teams also help the community year-round by helping with community emergency plans, neighborhood exercises, preparedness outreach, fire safety education, and workplace safety.

The benefits of CERT training

CERT training takes about 20 hours to complete and provides critical skills in emergency preparedness and response.

Participants learn how to:

• Identify and anticipate hazards
• Reduce fire hazards in the home and workplace
• Extinguish small fires
• Assist emergency responders
• Conduct light search and rescue
• Set up medical treatment areas
• Apply basic medical techniques
• Help reduce survivor stress

Who should take CERT training?

• People interested in taking an active role in hometown preparedness
• Neighborhood Watch groups
• Community leaders
• Parents
• Communities of faith
• Teachers and administrators
• Members of clubs and civic organizations

How can I get involved?

Contact John Smith ((803) 533-6265 or JSmith@OrangeburgCounty.org) at the Orangeburg County Office of Emergency Services