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Community Emergency Response Team: Team Development

Step 1. Recruit CERT volunteers from community police academy membership, from volunteer firefighters' associations, at preparedness fairs and expos, at community first aid trainings, and from local service organizations like Rotary Club. 


Step 2. Offer CERT training once or twice a year for volunteers.


Step 3. Identify a Team Lead. 


Step 4. Have volunteers take FEMA IS-100 (Incident Command System) and IS-700 (National Incident Management System).


Step 5. Identify ways CERT members can be of use to the community before disaster, in order to keep their skills sharp. For example, CERT can provide first aid or traffic control at community events. 


Step 6. Approach the fire department in your community to see how your CERT team might be of assistance to them in non-disaster scenarios.


Step 7. Provide regular advanced trainings: Stop the Bleed, Traffic Control, Crowd Control, and Advanced Triage. 


Step 8. Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the team.


Step 9. Identify pre- and post-disaster actions for your team.


Step 10. Require that volunteers participate in one or two events annually to keep skills sharp.


Step 11. Create an annual plan for the team and carry out its objectives.


Step 12. Provide annual exercises and training for volunteers.


Critical Success Factors


Training Effectiveness


  • Start with basic preparedness before advanced rescue skills.


  • Focus on preventing additional casualties during response.


  • Emphasize simple, high-impact skills (PPE use, basic first aid).


  • Maintain proficiency especially for technical skills like radio use through regular practice.


Integration Requirements


  • Use common language and procedures across all levels.


  • Create clear role definitions to prevent overlap and confusion.


  • Employ a scalable response structure that adapts to available resources.


  • Implement ICS training to ensure compatibility of CERT team with professional responders.


Resource Allocation Priority


  • Training first, equipment second


  • High-impact, low-cost preparations (shoes, gloves, basic supplies)


  • Community-level pre-staged resources for extended operations


  • Communication systems with regular practice requirements

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