COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING

While Collierville Police and Fire continuously prepare and train for everyday emergencies as well as disaster scenarios, we know that mass disasters can overwhelm conventional emergency services.  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program is a realistic, proactive approach to situations where citizens may be on their own to respond to life-sustaining needs.

The goal of CERT is to offer training and skills that allow citizens to respond effectively without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.  Completing CERT training means you will clearly understand how to safely help yourself, your family and your neighborhood when conventional emergency services are not readily available.

CERT COURSE OUTLINE

CERT training follows a FEMA nationally prepared course and manual with basic skill exercises and a disaster simulation. It is a free 20 hour course offered in a 2 ½ day session to those who live or work in Collierville. Hands-on exercises include actual use of a fire extinguisher, application of disaster medical skills, and leveraging debris from victims. The course concludes with a realistic simulated disaster requiring CERT team members to evaluate, plan and act to save victims in a variety of situations.

• Disaster Preparedness
• Fire Safety
• Disaster Medical Operations
• Light Search & Rescue Operations
• CERT Organization
• Disaster Psychology
• Terrorism and CERT
• Disaster Simulation

Students receive a FEMA CERT manual and basic safety gear including hard hat, vest, safety glasses and mask. Graduates are not called out to respond to emergencies, but are better qualified to assist as non-professional good Samaritans.

UPCOMING CLASSES

Class 12A
April 13, 14, & 21
Friday 6pm - 9pm
Saturdays 8am - 4pm 

Class 12B
May 4, 5, & 6

Fridays 6pm - 9pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm
 

Register Here

CERT INSTRUCTORS AND VOLUNTEERS

CERT is taught by professional First Responders from Collierville Police and Fire departments as well as instructors certified through training offered by EMA and Homeland Security. Previous graduates also volunteer to contribute to the success of the program through involvement in class exercises, acting as victims in the mock disaster or assisting in the further development of CERT with the Citizen Advisory Board.

COLLIERVILLE CERT CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD

This volunteer committee formed by Collierville CERT graduates has three primary goals;

— To promote awareness of Collierville's emergency preparedness training
— To evaluate, expand and improve the program
— To develop advanced CERT opportunities and training

CERT 'CAB' is open to all CERT graduates and meets on the second Thursday of each month from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.  Contact Lee Race for location by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

CERT AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

Collierville CERT has many partners in the Emergency Communications network. Many instructors and students have achieved amateur radio operator status. This qualifies them to operate on “ham” radio frequencies for greater reliability during disasters. They coordinate efforts with local amateur radio emergency organizations, EMA, Fire and Police. CERT Instructors also offer lessons in citizen- use of family two-way radios for back up to telephone use, which may be compromised during a disaster.

SIGN UP FOR CERT

On-line applications are available on www.colliervillefd.org. For additional information, contact Collierville CERT Coordinator, Lee Race at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .