CERT - Community Emergency Response Team

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

CERT Basic Training – Program Overview

Purpose: Train community members to safely help themselves, their families, and neighbors when professional responders are delayed, and to integrate with local response using ICS/NIMS principles.

Scope & Structure: Eight core units covering disaster preparedness, CERT organization/ICS, medical operations, psychology, fire safety/utilities, light search & rescue, and terrorism awareness—with hands-on exercises throughout

Audience: Residents, employees, and volunteers who want baseline capabilities to assist until first responders arrive, and to support them when requested by the sponsoring agency

Outcomes include: ICS use, scene size-up, medical interventions, fire safety, search & rescue, disaster psychology, and hazard recognition.

Course Summary

Unit 1 – Disaster Preparedness

  • Hazards, family plans, home safety, CERT role in local response.

  • Includes kit planning and mitigation concepts.

Unit 2 – CERT Organization

  • ICS structure, roles, communication, and documentation.

  • 9-step size-up and command structure basics.

Unit 3 – Disaster Medical Operations Part 1

  • Life-threatening conditions: bleeding, airway, and shock.

  • Burns, wound care, fractures, heat/cold emergencies.

Unit 4 – Disaster Medical Operations Part 2

  • Triage, treatment areas, sanitation, and assessments.

  • Mass-casualty principles and transport roles.

Unit 5 – Disaster Psychology

  • Survivor and rescuer stress reactions.

  • Stabilization techniques and emotional first aid.

Unit 6 – Fire Safety & Utility Controls

  • Fire chemistry, extinguisher use, PASS method.

  • Utility shutoff procedures and hazard recognition.

Unit 7 – Light Search & Rescue

  • Search patterns, marking, debris removal, and cribbing.

  • Safe lifting and transport techniques.

Unit 8 – Terrorism & CERT

  • Terrorism indicators, CERT’s limited response role.

  • Decontamination basics and shelter-in-place.

Registration is Now Open for CERT Basic Training

Registration is now open for the FREE upcoming CERT Basic Training class. The training will be hosted by Columbus-Muscogee County Emergency Management & Homeland Security at City Hall: 1111 1st Ave, Columbus, Georgia 31901. Location may change and details will be released as they become available, but seats do fill fast. The training course is a 16-hour commitment. Sign up at https://forms.gle/bGf8jMdtSmfJYucz6 

Join the Columbus-Muscogee County CERT Team

Individuals who would like to help with public education, special events, or emergency activations are encouraged to join the Columbus-Muscogee County CERT team. Send an email to qpreer@columbusga.org to express your interest in joining the team if you are already CERT trained.