Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Los Altos Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) supports our community’s ability to respond and recover after a disaster event.  CERT-trained volunteers have learned how to prepare themselves and their families for disasters and how to assist others in the neighborhood or workplace immediately following an event when emergency responders may not be available to help.  CERT-trained volunteers can register with the City as a Disaster Service Worker (DSW) Volunteer and join the Los Altos CERT team.  To join the Los Altos CERT team, contact the Los Altos CERT Program Manager by e-mail.

Get CERT Trained and Join Los Altos CERT!

Anyone who lives or works in Los Altos is invited to take CERT training!  Once you're completed your CERT classes, register with the city of Los Altos as a Disaster Service Worker volunteer, and join the Los Altos CERT Team!   Note: All CERT training academies in the United States use the same, FEMA-based curriculum.  If you have completed the CERT training courses anywhere in the USA, come join the Los Altos CERT team!

The 21-hour “CERT Academy” teaches you skills that will allow you to safely render assistance after a disaster to help your family, neighbors and your community.  You cannot help if you become a victim, so you will learn the skills and knowledge to do it right!  The CERT Academy covers Emergency Preparedness skills including:

  • Basic First-Aid
  • Emergency Medical Operations and first aid
  • Fire Safety and hands-on practice using a fire extinguisher
  • Basic Search and Rescue

The Academy concludes with a disaster simulation exercise where the CERT trainees get hands-on practice and integrate all the skills learned during the several weeks of class.

Santa Clara County Fire Department teaches the CERT training academy in Los Altos and other cities.  Sunnyvale, Palo Alto and other neighboring cities also host CERT academies and Los Altos residents may take classes there if space is available. 

UPCOMING CERT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

Neighboring Cities - Campbell, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto may include Los Altos residents in their CERT training academies on a space-available basis.  

Teen CERT Training Academy:  Learn important life skills in disaster preparedness through the online training and in-person skills training.  Hosted by Los Altos Hills County Fire District. 

LOS ALTOS CERT TEAM MEMBERS 
  • Visit Resilient Los Altos is one stop for all your preparedness needs. 
  • Current Los Altos CERT activation procedures are posted here 

Incident Command System Training

We recommend that all CERT members learn about the Incident Command System (ICS) and NIMS.  FEMA offers web-based training, so that you can complete the courses at your convenience:

IS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100
IS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
IS-700. National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
IS-800: National Response Framework An Introduction

Neighboring CERT Teams and Training Opportunities

Neighboring communities welcome Los Altos residents to attend their CERT academies, space permitting. Learn more about nearby CERT Programs and Training Academies:

 
  • Printer-friendly version