The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program offers members of the public an opportunity to learn basic hands-on disaster response techniques and life-saving skills to utilize in their own homes and neighborhoods. This 100% volunteer program was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985 and implemented nationally by FEMA in 1993. CERT members train for a minimum 27 hours of classroom and 3 hours hands on practical skills in the following areas before becoming a registered volunteer:
- Disaster preparedness
- Fire safety & utility controls
- Light search and rescue
- Team organization
- Disaster psychology
- Terrorism response
- Disaster medical operations
Chicago CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)