Emergency Preparedness with CERT!
Many members of our Hollywoodland community have their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) qualification. Recently, three HHA Board members completed the training and we wanted to share some of our observations.
CERT training is provided by the LAFD and is free. The in-person courses run seven to ten weeks, depending on class length, and equip participants with basic responder skills in emergencies including fires, road accidents, earthquakes, terrorism and events leading to injuries that require immediate attention. CERT qualified individuals do not replace emergency services, but can help with triage, first aid, debris clearing and information gathering while emergency services are on the way or occupied elsewhere.
In Hollywoodland, we live in a Very High Fire Severity Zone (VHFSZ) and this has been our main motivation to get trained. CERT is equipped to handle issues that arise nearby, and the City of LA is organised in battalions to ensure CERT trained individuals who have registered to be responders can form local teams quickly.
We believe in preparedness and this course has taught us many key things like packing a go bag, using a fire extinguisher under time pressure, triaging accident victims to ensure the best outcome for the most people, wound management, what information emergency services personnel need to be able to respond quickly, and the importance of checking smoke alarms at home. It’s about keeping our homes and families safe as well as being a resource for our community.
The classes are lively and participants share knowledge and ask questions. Active-duty LAFD fire fighters lead them and share real-life situations they have had to handle, and how CERT trained civilians have joined in to help. Participants also receive a backpack of essential emergency response items, which is extremely valuable to have on hand.
We are aiming to establish a CERT network within Hollywoodland, so if you have trained, please let us know via info@hollywoodland.org.
