Southern Nevada CERT

Courses

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General Information

Following a major disaster, professional-first responders providing fire, police, and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. The number of victims, communication failures and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.

History has taught us that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following Hurricane Hugo, the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

We know that government emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake. We know people will attempt to assist those in need and spontaneously volunteer. What then should government do to prepare citizens?

First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, communicate the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, train them - in needed life-saving skills - with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Fourth, organize teams so that trained citizens are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

The city of Las Vegas, Office of Emergency Management provides training and coordination for the Southern Nevada Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. The Southern Nevada CERT program encompasses  Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and parts of Nye Counties. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, weapons of mass destruction/terrorism and disaster psychology.

For more information contact:

Mary Camin

Southern Nevada CERT Program Coordinator

702-229-0076, mcamin@lasvegasnevada.gov

Guy DeMarco

Southern Nevada CERT Marketing and Promotions Specialist

702-229-6794, gdemarco@lasvegasnevada.gov

Units

Unit 1, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: 

• Introductions and Overview
• Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities
• Hazards and Their Potential Impact
• Impact on the Infrastructure
• Home and Workplace Preparedness
• Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation
• CERT Disaster Response
• Protection for Disaster Workers
• Additional Training for CERTs
• Unit Summary

Unit 2, FIRE SAFETY AND UTILITY CONTROLS: 

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• Fire Chemistry
• Fire and Utility Hazards
• CERT Size-Up
• Fire Size-Up Considerations
• Firefighting Resources
• Fire Suppression Safety
• Hazardous Materials
• Exercise: Suppressing Small Fires
• Unit Summary

Unit 3, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART I: 

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• Treating Life-Threatening Conditions
• Triage
• Unit Summary

Unit 4, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II: 

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• Public Health Considerations
• Functions of Disaster Medical Operations
• Establishing Medical Treatment Areas
• Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments
• Treating Burns
• Wound Care
• Treating Fractures, Dislocations, Sprains and Strains
• Nasal Injuries
• Treating Cold-Related Injuries
• Treating Heat-Related Injuries
• Bites and Stings
• Unit Summary

Unit 5, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS:

• Introduction and Overview
• Safety During Search and Rescue Operations
• Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations
• Conducting Rescue Operations
• Unit Summary

 Unit 6, CERT ORGANIZATION:

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• CERT Organization
• CERT Mobilization
• Documentation
• Activity: Incident Command System (ICS) Functions
• Activity: Tabletop Exercise
• Unit Summary

Unit 7, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY: 

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• Disaster Trauma
• Team Well-Being
• Working with Survivors' Trauma
• Unit Summary

 Unit 8, TERRORISM AND CERT: 

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• What is Terrorism?
• Terrorist Targets
• Terrorist Weapons
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Indicators
• Preparing at Home, Work, and in Your Neighborhood
• CERTs and Terrorist Incidents
• Activity: Applying CERT Principles to a Suspected Terrorist Incident
• Unit Summary

Unit 9, COURSE REVIEW, FINAL EXAM AND DISASTER SIMULATION: 

• Introduction and Unit Overview
• Course Review
• Final Exam
• Disaster Simulation

News

Second Annual CERT Exercise Held

Nearly 50 CERT volunteers had the opportunity to practice their life-saving skills on April 13^th at the second annual Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) exercise. The day-long event took place at the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Training Center.

The volunteers began the day with a refresher CERT course that focused on fire suppression, medical operations and the Incident Command System.

After lunch, the exercise began with a mock news report by KCLV of an earthquake under Frenchman Mountain. The volunteers dispatched to the Incident Command Post, where they were organized into teams for search and rescue; medical operations and fire suppression. Once sent into the field of play, the teams encountered “damaged” buildings, fires and more than 70 actors who portrayed injured victims (with realistic-looking injuries). The exercise lasted approximately two hours.

“Our volunteers deserve the utmost credit,” said Southern Nevada CERT Program Specialist Mary Camin. “Their commitment, effort, and dedication are what make the Southern Nevada CERT program and this exercise possible.”

Thanks to all of the players; as well as the volunteers provided by Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, the city of Las Vegas Marshal’s Office, the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada, UNLV, EMS Training Center of Southern Nevada and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Special thanks to Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Gary Suan for providing access to the Fire Training Center, as well as to Firehouse Subs for providing food to everyone involved.

CERT Instructor Honored for 1 October Efforts

The Oct. 1, 2017 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas ended the lives of 58 people; hundreds more were injured. Some of the more than 20,000 concert-goers, however, survived thanks to the quick actions of people who attended the event.

One of those heroes is Southern Nevada CERT instructor Fernandez Leary.

Leary was attending the concert with family and friends. When the shooting started, his experience as a former fire chief and paramedic took over. Leary helped administer first aid to many people who sustained injuries from the shooting.

Now, Fernandez Leary is being recognized for his efforts. The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada named Fernandez Leary as one of the organization's 2018 Everyday Heroes. The annual awards are presented by the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada and Caesar's Entertainment, with support from KLAS-TV, Channel 8.

Thanks to Fernandez Leary for his life-saving actions at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, and thanks to the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada for giving him this much-deserved honor.

Watch the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada Everyday Heroes Awards Banquet

Watch 8 News NOW's Story about Fernandez Leary

FAQ

What are the course fees?

The course is free. The Community Emergency Response Team Program is sponsored through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

How do I join?

The CERT course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders who have the requisite knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. The CERT training for community groups is usually delivered in 2½to 3 hour sessions, one evening a week over a 6 or 8 week period.

When participants have completed this training, with their permission, they are entered into a database of disaster volunteers that may be notified in case of a disaster or to participate in drills held throughout the county by responding agencies. CERT members are notified by email.

Events

CERT Classes Added For 2019

The Southern Nevada CERT program is preparing for a busy 2019. More than a dozen course offerings are now available for registration, with more on the way. The courses are being offered in several areas in southern Nevada, including Henderson, Las Vegas, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas and Pahrump.

Courses are typically offered once a week for six weeks; or during a two-day intensive course that spans one or two weekends.

History

In Southern Nevada Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) training began in 1999. The first course was held in Sun City Summerlin and graduated 12 students. We offer between 18 and 20 courses each year throughout Southern Nevada at Community Centers, Churches and other facilities provided by the groups sponsoring a course. If your group consists of 15-32 individuals, we can tailor a course specifically for it.

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.

The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Instituteand the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.