How Volunteers Help During A Crisis Using CERT Products

By Eric Holm


C.E.R.T. (Certified Emergency Response Teams) Training Program is aimed at providing community volunteers with educational materials, lectures and hands on training in fundamental disaster response skills that will be helpful during calamities and other emergency situations.

Some crisis circumstances are large and the need for many emergency personnel is needed. In these cases, those C. E. R. T. Volunteers are greatly helpful in helping to maintain the mortality of people in dangerous situations until the medical or other response teams can get to them. These volunteers are trained for stabilizing the situation and helping to spread calmness in the face of disaster. Indeed, the government is urging these volunteers to take action during these times of critical need.

Even though you may have just turned eighteen, you can become trained as a C. E. R. T. Volunteer. You might also if you are under the age of eighteen, but only with special permission form parents. Training will include many aspects of dealing with emergencies that include search and rescue procedures, safety during a fire, administering some first aid, determining the size of a threat, and other vital first steps in saving others or helping them to maintain survival during an emergency.

One great responsibility of C. E. R. T. Volunteers is helping to educate the public about fire safety, what to in the event of hurricanes or tornadoes, or other kinds of disasters. You can also help out a lot by going to schools or other public areas for teaching about fire safety and emergency measures. Some volunteers help out by visiting older people in their homes to change batteries in smoke alarms or going over an escape route in the event of a fire. These are examples of some of the activities you can do while not assisting in real emergency.

Once you are certified, you will be provided with C. E. R. T. Kit that will allow you to be better prepared for certain aspects of an emergency or disaster situation. Your kit may contain supplies for administering first aid, water pouches, light sticks, and other items that could help out in a serious situation. Keep in mind your supplies are for helping others to survive in a difficult circumstance. Make sure to keep fresh batteries in the flashlight you have in your kit. You might also have whistles and a bullhorn for notifying members of responses teams upon their arrival. Volunteers will also be given vests, t-shirts and other identifying types of clothing for being distinguished among a group of people.




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