San Francisco State University
CAMPUS – COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, C-CERT
An Emergency Preparedness Initiative
Introduction
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is part of a national program sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA and the national Citizens Corps (www.citizencorps.gov). CSU supports Campus-CERTs as part of implementing Executive Order 1013, which sets forth the guidelines for emergency preparedness programs at all 13 campuses (www.calstate.edu/eo/EO-1013).
The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for multiple hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
Emergency events such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the recent BP oil spill, have taught us that major disasters can strike at anytime, without warning and quickly overwhelm emergency responders. The reality is that in a major disaster, many people may be on their own for several days without resources long after the initial emergency. The CERT training will benefit anyone who takes it by preparing them to respond and to cope with the aftermath of disaster.
Because we know that being prepared before disaster strikes can save lives, SF State is implementing the first Campus-CERT beginning fall semester 2010. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to become members and receive free training in life saving skills with an emphasis on decision making, rescuer safety, emergency triage and first aid, how to organize spontaneous volunteers and a host of other emergency response and survival skills.
Campus-CERT will be an ongoing initiative through the university’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, under the direction of the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Training will be provided by the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) through their Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) Program.
Mission Statement
Beginning with ourselves, we will be prepared and work as an individual or together as emergency response teams, to assist our families, neighbors and the campus community in time of disaster and be prepared to make decisions that – Do The Most Good For The Most People.
C-CERT Goals
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Train members of the campus community in emergency preparedness and response so they can better mitigate risk to themselves, their families and their work environment
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Develop survival skills necessary to take care of themselves, their families and to assist others in the campus community in the event of an emergency
Build a sense of community on campus, as members become a cohesive team, share training experiences and develop useful skills
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Develop self-confidence and peace of mind as we learn practical information and hands-on life-saving skills.
C-CERT Objectives
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Conduct on-campus SFFD - NERT Training annually, to recruit/train new Team members
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Outfit each member with standard DHS authorized vest, hardhat, equipment and supplies
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Participate in on-campus emergency drills annually or as appropriate
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Maximize C-CERT visibility on campus to recruit members and promote preparedness
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Train and certify C-CERT members in the Incident Command System (ICS), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the State Emergency Management System (SEMS)
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Deploy on campus in response to an emergency when appropriate, based on conditions
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Respond as requested and available to the SF Fire Department, for deployment to other areas of need, once the SF State community no-longer needs C-CERT support
Conclusion
CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where people will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, faculty, staff and students can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.
To sign up and join the SF State Campus-CERT program, send an email to gayleo@sfsu.edu.
