Community Emergency Response Team
CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
CERT Classes
The next CERT class is scheduled for March 16 through 18. The schedule is as follows::
- March 16 class - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- March 17 class - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- March 18 class - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Participants must submit a completed application two weeks before the classes and pass a City-processed background check.
For more information, contact Brigitte Bellsong at (505) 833-7247.
About CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for 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.
Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
Readiness & Helping
CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference.
Through training, citizens can:
- Manage utilities and put out small fires
- Treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock
- Provide basic medical aid
- Search for and rescue victims safely, and
- Organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective
