In-Person Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training: Fall 2022 Class #5

You can now take Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Courses online or in-person!

Using training learned in the digital classroom and during in-person exercises, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

Do you know what to do when disaster strikes before professional help arrives? Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as 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 lifesaving and life sustaining needs until professional services arrive.

About the course:

CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during online and in-person training. CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies and include:

1. Disaster Awareness and Preparedness
2. Response Team Management
3. Disaster Psychology
4. Fire Suppression and Utilities Control
5. Hazardous Materials Awareness
6. Disaster Medical Operations
7. Light Search and Rescue
8. Terrorism Awareness
9. Small Unit Leadership

Participants in the course learn skills that will enable them to provide emergency assistance to their families and neighbors as well as organize a neighborhood team response in the event of a major disaster. There will be no charge for the course or materials. The only cost incurred may be in upgrading your disaster supply kit at home (food, water, tools etc.).

The training course will involve instructions in light fire suppression, hazardous materials situations, first aid, light search and rescue techniques, and procedures in organizing CERTs to aid and assist in times of disaster. You do not need any special skills to participate, just the willingness to learn the skills necessary to survive a disaster. The in-person portion of the training program will involve some physical activity, such as using fire extinguishing equipment and rescue tools under the supervision of trained Fire Department personnel.

CERT is now available to take online or in-person.

In-person sessions are scheduled by the Hayward Fire Department and take place at the Downtown Hayward Library, 888 C Street, unless otherwise posted, and are from 6 - 9 p.m.

Class size is limited to 60 participants. No walk-ins, pre-registration is required. You are required to attend all five (5) classes in order to receive your certification.

The Fall 2022 in-person session is five (5) classes on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Oct. 18
• Thursday, Oct. 20
• Tuesday, Oct. 25
• Thursday, Oct. 27
• Thursday, Nov. 3