C.E.R.T.
Community Emergency Response Team
What is the Citizen Corps?
- A component of the USA Freedom Corps
- Creates opportunities for individuals to volunteer to help their communities prepare for and respond to emergencies
- Brings together local leaders, citizen volunteers, and first responders
- Offers programs such as:
- Neighborhood Watch Programs
- Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
- Medical Reserve Corps
- Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
What is the C.E.R.T. Program?
- Helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in their
community during times of disaster - Participants receive training in:
- Disaster preparedness
- Basic emergency medical care
- Fire suppression
- Light search and rescue techniques
- And other topics, taught by professional first responders
C.E.R.T. - Trained graduates are:
- Able to help their community by:
- giving critical support to first responders
- provide immediate assistance to victims
- organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site
- C.E.R.T. members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community
Our Vision:
- A C.E.R.T. team active in education and outreach in our community, providing support and assistance to our first responders
Our Need: Your Talents and Time!
- Computer/Web design skills
- Legal and Tax expertise
- Phone Calling
- Runners
- Communications/Education
- C.E.R.T. class recruits!!!
C.E.R.T. Classes:
- Classes are 8 weeks in length, meeting once a week
- Includes hands on participation and a staged disaster drill
- Continuing education classes will be held over additional topics after completion of the course
- An annual field day will be held as a refresher course
- Are open to citizens of Bedford, or employees of a Bedford business, who are at least 18 years of age
Upon Completion of Training, C.E.R.T. members may:
- Respond to an emergency situation, then provide assistance to professional emergency responders in a variety of ways:
- Missing person searches
- Coordinating volunteers and their efforts
- Answering phones
- and many other ways
- Provide volunteer support in non-emergency situations:
- Assist in community education and outreach on emergency preparedness
- Man first-aid stations at community events
- And other opportunities that may arise
Click here for an application form
