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Following a major disaster or emergency, public safety personnel may
not be able to meet all of the demands for services required. Factors
such 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 via “911.” It is also
expected that under disaster circumstances, people will spontaneously
try to help each other. Such was the case following 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. If we
can predict that emergency services may not be able to meet immediate
needs following a major disaster and that people will spontaneously
volunteer, what can be done to prepare a group of citizens for this
eventuality? CERT !
The Community Emergency Response Team concept was
developed and implemented in Los Angeles, California. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency recognizing the importance of the program
has adopted and expanded the CERT materials to cover all hazards. The
individual taking this course will benefit by being better prepared to
respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. The CERT training
is advantageous not only to individuals but to community groups,
businesses and civic associations as well.