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CERT Training schedule for 2020

To sign up for the next CERT class in your area or to receive notification when the next class is offered pleae complete this CERT sign up form.

CERT Class flyer Please feel free to post the flyer and encourage others to particiapte!



Live in the Kenai Peninsula Borough?

Want to help during a disaster?

No experience? Lots of experience?

During a disaster we need people to help by staffing shelters, call centers, door to door evacuations, search and rescue, triage, documentation just to name a few ways you can participate and help! If you are willing, we need your help.

This class is a 28 hour course. There is no cost for course or obligation to volunteer after the course, however space is limited and minimum enrollments are required in order to conduct the course.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers of all skill levels about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities of the communities within the KPB to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough has over 15,000 square land miles and is subject to the risk of many natural disasters such as avalanches, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfire, and floods. In addition, there are possibilities of man-made emergencies such as missing persons or hazardous materials releases.

Because our infrastructure is vulnerable to natural disasters every citizen of the Kenai Peninsula must be prepared, as we are not able to rely on typical infrastructure, with a disaster kit that contains food, water, and first aid supplies. For Alaska, we recommend that each household have at least 7 days but recommend two weeks of supplies on hand for each family member and pets. This Alaska Building a 7 Day Emergency Kit is a great way to get started.

Please look around our website for further information, and contact us if you have any questions or would like to get involved. The Disaster Information links on the OEM Menu includes information for before, during and after emergencies strike.

CERT Course Overview

The CERT Basic Course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders, and other qualified emergency professionals.

This is the typical course schedule - If you miss a class in your area you may be able to do makeup during another course series. Speak to instructors or Jade Gamble, KPB Program Manager 262-2097

Monday - Disaster Preparedness: Addresses hazards specific to the community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during and after a disaster as well as an overview of CERT and local laws governing volunteers.

Addresses hazards specific to the community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during and after a disaster as well as an overview of CERT and local laws governing volunteers. Tuesday - Fire Suppression: Covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire.

Covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire. Thursday - Medical Operations Part I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.

Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques. Saturday - Medical Operations Part II & Light Search and Rescue Operations : Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing basic first aid. Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and rescuer safety.

Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing basic first aid. Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and rescuer safety. Monday - Psychology: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and workers and how to help those struggling.

Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and workers and how to help those struggling. Tuesday - Terrorism and CERT Team Organization: Covers the limited involvement CERT would have during a terrorism event and addresses CERT team organization and management.

Covers the limited involvement CERT would have during a terrorism event and addresses CERT team organization and management. Thursday - Course Review: Participants review the skills that they have learned during the course.

Participants review the skills that they have learned during the course. Saturday - Disaster Simulation: Participants practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in a disaster activity.

Pictures from the Disaster Simulation from our local CERT training