Welcome to the San Bernardino City Fire Department's CERT program

 CERT Academies will be offered throughout the 2011 calendar year.
Classes will take place at the San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center (SBRETC)
located at 2235 E. Perimeter Rd., Room 100

Please refer to the city's homepage or calendar for monthly CERT class announcements.

One cannot predict...  But one can prepare

What is CERT?

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

• Your Name 
• Mailing Address 
• Daytime Telephone Number 
• Fax Number 
• E-Mail Address 
• Total number of people to receive training

• Advanced planning is required. 
• Contact the Disaster Preparedness Unit. 
• An interest sheet will be completed by a CERT staff member. 
• Classes will be scheduled on an equitable basis, and prioritized by initial contact date.

• CERT Training will be offered free of charge within the jurisdiction served by the San Bernardino City Fire Department. 
• CERT Training will generally be provided over a 24-hour period. 
• CERT Training Staff can work with you in developing a training curriculum and schedule to fit special needs. 
• Students must attend all 24 hours in order to receive a CERT certificate.
• To host a class, you will need to provide a suitable location and an audience. 
• The site you choose must be open to all citizens who wish to attend. 
• We welcome you to consider public schools, public auditoriums, community buildings, houses of worship or any other facility that will accommodate the anticipated participants in a classroom setting. 
• The minimum class size for CERT Training is 15 students.

CERT training provides community self-sufficiency through the development of multi-functional response teams that can act as an adjunct to local emergency services during major disasters. Empowered by this unique training, people from community organizations, businesses, industry, and City employees can assemble as a CERT, or perform as individual leaders to direct untrained volunteers in the initial phase of a disaster.

CERT members will receive 24 hours of initial training in earthquake awareness, disaster fire suppression techniques, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue as well as team organization and management. CERT Training culminates with a disaster simulation and comprehensive course review. All training will be conducted in a congenial atmosphere by active-duty career Firefighters with expertise in disaster management.

The ability of a business or community to recover from the devastating effects of an earthquake or other disaster requires the active planning, participation and cooperation of all members of society. The responsibility for preparedness, however, lies with each individual. By encouraging preparedness efforts, hazard identification and mitigation, CERT can minimize the effects of a disaster and facilitate recovery. The benefits of this program are numerous. CERT will increase the overall level of public disaster readiness in San Bernardino, provide emergency skills that people may use in day-to-day emergencies, enhance the bond between government and populace, and increase community spirit.

• Registration 
• Introduction 
• Earthquake Threat in Southern California
• Personal and Family Preparedness 
• Nonstructural Hazard Mitigation

CLASS 2 - DISASTER FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNIQUES

• Fire Chemistry 
• Fire Extinguisher Use 
• Utility Control 
• Ventilation 
• Firefighting Techniques 
• Hazardous Materials

CLASS 3 - TEAM ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

• Developing a Response Team 
• Incident Command System 
• Size-Up 
• Disaster Psychology

CLASS 4 - DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS / SESSION I

• Recognizing and Treating Life-Threatening Emergencies 
• Triage 
• Treatment Area Management

CLASS 5 - LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

• Evacuation 
• Search Techniques 
• Rescue Methods

CLASS 6 - DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS / SESSION II

• Head-to-Toe Evaluation 
• Recognizing and Treating Non-Life-Threatening Emergencies 
• Muti-Casualty Incident Operations

CLASS 7 - COURSE REVIEW AND DISASTER SIMULATION

• Course Review 
• Practical Exercises 
• Critique

This initial 24-hour course can be followed by voluntary continuing education program. These sessions will be offered periodically, and give CERT Graduates a chance to sharpen their skills under the guidance of on-duty Firefighters.