Whatcom County CERT

The Community Emergency Response Team 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, put out small fires, treat the three killers (blocked airways, bleeding, and shock), provide basic medical aid, search for and rescue victims safely, and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective. The CERT program offers a training course where participants learn the skills described above. The course takes about 24 hours split into eight class sessions. Classes typically meet once a week. After completing the training course, volunteers choose their level of participation. They can learn additional skills and participate in community activities.