Late Spring 2023 CERT Basic Class
CERT Basic class. Day 3 of 4. Registration Required.
Details at https://www.aaacert.org/cert-basic-training/
CERT Basic Training
Late Spring 2023 CERT Basic Class
CERT Basic class. Day 2 of 4. Registration Required.
Details at https://www.aaacert.org/cert-basic-training/
Late Spring 2023 CERT Basic Class
CERT Basic class. Day 1 of 4. Registration Required.
Details at https://www.aaacert.org/cert-basic-training/
Last CERT Basic Class of 2022
Friends, we need your help!
Please post this to your social feeds and ask your friends and family
members if they are interested.
Our last CERT Basic class of 2022 is quickly approaching and seats are still available. The first class is starting September 9th. Please visit our website for details on the class including scheduling, topics covered, and the sign up link.
Keep in mind you do NOT need to join AAACERT after completing CERT Basic. But you WILL have piece of mind knowing the ‘what’ and ‘how’ you can help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of an emergency.
An emergency isn’t always a global catastrophe. Sever weather like tornadoes, micro-burst storms, and blizzards along with “normal” injuries are all examples we can and do face in every day life. CERT Basic class will provide you the knowledge to help UNTIL HELP ARRIVES.
Congrats, CERT Basic Class of May 2022
Congratulations to the May 2022 CERT Basic class. Anne Arundel Annapolis CERT’s second class of 2022. The May 2022 class underwent its training and final disaster simulation exercise at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, MD. This group was challenged with under 10 participants which added extra stress to the search and rescue teams. Despite this challenge, they did an outstanding job. During the simulation, search teams had to perform basic search and rescue, provided triage to survivors, simulate fire suppression, and deploy cribbing to free a trapped survivor. Checkout our Facebook page for more photos of this and other events.
Interested in taking part in our next class which starts in May? Then checkout our training page on our website for more details.
Congrats, CERT Basic Class of April 2022
Congratulations to the April 2022 CERT Basic class. Anne Arundel Annapolis CERT’s first class of 2022. The April 2022 class underwent its training and final disaster simulation exercise at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, MD. This group was close to pre pandemic size with almost 20 participants. During the simulation, search teams had to perform basic search and rescue, provided triage to survivors, simulate fire suppression, and deploy cribbing to free a trapped survivor. The class found all victims and treated them accordingly. Checkout our Facebook page for more photos of this and other events.
Interested in taking part in our next class which starts in May? Then checkout our training page on our website for more details.
Congrats, CERT Basic Class of October 2021!
Congratulations to the October 2021 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training class. The class underwent its training and final exercise at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, MD. This training group had the extra challenge of having only seven participants instead of the usual 20-plus. As a result of their smaller size, during the simulation, search teams had to do double duty both looking for and treating victims. The class overcame this challenge, found all victims, and treated them accordingly. Checkout our Facebook page for more photos of this and other events.
Interested in taking part in our next class, checkout our website for more details. https://www.aaacert.org
Congrats, CERT Basic Class of May 2021!
Congratulations to the May 2021 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training class. The class underwent its training and final exercise at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, MD. This training group had the extra challenge of having almost half the normal number of participants. As a result of their smaller size, during the simulation, search teams had to do double duty both looking for and treating victims. The class overcame this challenge, found all victims, and treated them accordingly. Checkout our Facebook page for more photos of this and other events.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, class sizes are limited and fill fast. Interested? Please visit www.aaacert.org.
Congrats, CERT Basic Class of March 2021!
Congratulations to the March 2021 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training class. The class underwent its training and final exercise at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, MD. This training group had the extra challenge of having almost half the normal number of participants. As a result of their smaller size, during the simulation, search teams had to do double duty both looking for and treating victims. The class overcame this challenge, found all victims, and treated them accordingly.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, class sizes are limited and fill fast. Interested? Please visit www.aaacert.org.
TWO SEATS TO FILL!
We only have two seats left for the upcoming March and April classes and we need to fill them. Do you know someone who might be interested in CERT Basic class? Send them this post and encourage them to sign up.
While we would love for you to join our CERT organization after training, it is not a requirement for this class. The only requirement, besides the FEMA class, is an interest in knowing what to do in an emergency. Who doesn’t want to have that knowledge?
Tick Tock…Tick Tock, Time is Counting Down
We have only 1 slot available for our upcoming EARLY SPRING CERT BASIC CLASS. Sign up now at the link below.
As for the LATE SPRING CERT BASIC CLASS, there are only a couple of slots open for that.
We do not expect these to remain open long, so click that link and sign up quickly.
Our CERT Basic classes in March and April are now open. Due to COVID-19 precautions, space is very limited so sign up quickly. The Basic CERT class is approximately 24 hours of instruction in basic disaster skills over 4 days.
CERT Basic Training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. With training and practice, and by working as a team, you will be able to protect yourself and do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster. Medical or EMT experience is not required.
For dates and times including a link to sign up, please visit the training page on our website at www.aaacert.org/cert-basic-training
PRE-REQUISITES:
Two, online, FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses must be successfully completed prior to the start of CERT Basic training. These courses are free (note: you will be required to get a Student ID (SID) which also is free). The courses are listed as 3 hours each in duration but, on the average, students complete them in a little more than half that time. Details can be found at the link above.
We look forward to having you!
Be Prepared. Have a Plan.
CERT Basic Classes NOW OPEN
Our CERT Basic classes in March and April are now open. Due to COVID-19 precautions, space is very limited so sign up quickly. The Basic CERT class is approximately 24 hours of instruction in basic disaster skills over 4 days.
CERT Basic Training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. With training and practice, and by working as a team, you will be able to protect yourself and do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster. Medical or EMT experience is not required.
For dates and times including a link to sign up, please visit the training page on our website at www.aaacert.org/cert-basic-training
PRE-REQUISITES:
Two, online, FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses must be successfully completed prior to the start of CERT Basic training. These courses are free (note: you will be required to get a Student ID (SID) which also is free). The courses are listed as 3 hours each in duration but, on the average, students complete them in a little more than half that time. Details can be found at the link above.
We look forward to having you!
Be Prepared. Have a Plan.
Congrats, CERT Basic Class of November 2020!
Congratulations to the November 2020 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training class. The class underwent its training and final exercise at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, MD. This training group had the extra challenge of having almost half the normal number of participants. As a result of their smaller size, during the simulation, search teams had to do double duty both looking for and treating victims. The class overcame this challenge, found all victims, and treated them accordingly.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, class sizes are limited and fill fast. Interested? Please visit www.aaacert.org.
New CERT Basic Training Class Completes Instruction
Congratulations to the October 2020 Basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class. The class underwent its training and final exercise in October 2020 at the Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy in Millersville, Md. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, class sizes are limited and fill fast. Interested? Please visit www.aaacert.org.
AAACERT in the News
Teen of the Week: Glen Burnie High senior works ahead for college, looks to career in public service
Basic CERT Class – Late Spring 2019
On Saturday, June 8, 20 community members completed the Late Spring iteration of the Basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. The three-day course included classroom training and practical exercises, and culminated in a full mass-casualty exercise.
One week prior, the students participated in a triage exercise, coming face to face with AAACERT members simulating injuries after a storm hit a classroom. They quickly learned the value of the simulation, as they had to deal with patients who had been instructed by evaluators to be uncooperative.
In the June 8 exercise, the students were met with an entire compound full of simulated injuries; the victims in this drill were wearing moulage, courtesy of Kim Reyes, to make the simulation feel lifelike. Simulating victims of a tornado, AAACERT members playing the role of victims were again displaying uncooperative, anxious behavior and doing their best to make it an authentic experience. The students successfully assessed the situation, evaluating and treating the victims, as well as handling unexpected scenarios the team staged.
Note: Some photos here are graphic and contain realistic (but simulated) injuries.
Mary, one of the victims, shows off her minor cuts and abrasions before the exercise. 
Mark suffered from an injury to the back of the head. 
The team develops its plan and heads out to survey the area. 
The team set up its treatment area, ready to sort the victims based on the severity of their injuries. 
After completing their initial triage, a team heads out to treat and evacuate the wounded. 
A team escorts a victim to the treatment area. 
The victim waits in the treatment area; although the wounds are severe, he is stable and does not take priority. 
A team enters a building to search for more victims. 
Team Leads stand outside a building, communicating the situation to the Incident Commander, as their team evacuates victims from the building. 
A team provides first aid to victims before getting them to the pre-staged treatment area. 
Partners assess a child on a wire. Note: Never get this close to downed wires! 
Students triage Mark, an AAACERT member, who is playing the role of a head injury victim. 
Victims wait for treatment.
Anne Arundel and Annapolis CERT (AAACERT) hosts basic training multiple times per year. The course provides students with fundamental skills to respond to the community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster when emergency services are not immediately available. Alone, these basic skills allow people to help themselves, their families, and others. By working together, CERT members can assist in saving lives and protecting property using the simple techniques in this course.
More information about the next CERT Basic Training can be found on the website: https://www.aaacert.org/training/cert-basic-training/
All photos submitted by volunteers and used with permission.
CERT Basic Training Class 2018-02 Graduation
AAACERT Instructors awarded Certificates of Completion for the Basic CERT class to thirteen individuals on Saturday, 09 June.
The graduating Basic CERT class received instruction in disasters, incident command structure, disaster medical operations, use of fire extinguishers, psychological aspects of disasters, search and rescue and other topics intended to teach the students what to do in case of a disaster or other emergency.
Volunteer victims were moulaged, made up to appear to have injuries, as part of the classes final disaster drill. The volunteers then were spread about the area hidden in various locations and the class members were required to find, triage (sort the victims according to their injuries) and move them to a central collection point. Anne Arundel County Police the arrived on the scene where the student acting as the Incident Commander gave report.
Congratulations to all who attended and thank you to all of the volunteers and instructors. Special thanks to the Anne Arundel County Fire Department for the use of classrooms and the “yard” and to Anne Arundel County Police for participating in the final exercise!
CERT Basic Training Class, June 2018
AAACERT Late Spring Basic CERT underway at the Anne Arundel Fire Department (AAFD) Academy in Millersville. This is the second of three class that will be held in 2018. Basic CERT classes are approximately 21 hours and students learn the essentials of emergency preparedness to assist in disasters and emergencies.
Learning about fire and how to extinguish small fires is part of the Basic CERT class. Bowie VFD graciously taught class members using their Mobile Learning Lab. The mobile lab allows trainees to train using environmentally safe materials. The simulator uses propane to create the fire. Water is sprayed into a specially designed fire container and when properly applied the fire is extinguished. AAACERT would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by Bowie VFD and voice our appreciation.
Medical emergencies and injuries occur during disasters and CERT members have to be prepared. Instructor Pablo Gonzalez teaches CERT students how to perform triage and treat the injured. This is one of the sections of the class encompassing two modules and having 5.5 hours dedicated to the topic.
Following Medical Operations, Instructor Bruce Morgenstern teaches the students how to move patients during the Search module. Students also learn how to conduct basic searches and to mark buildings after being searched.
If you are interested in taking a Basic CERT class or interested in becoming a member of AAACERT, you may use the Contact Us form.
CERT Basic Training Class, June 2018
CERT Basic training consists of 20.5 hours of training including a mass casualty exercise.
The purpose of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic training is to provide you with basic skills necessary to respond to your community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster, when emergency services are not immediately available. By working together, CERT members can assist in saving lives and protecting property using the basic techniques in this course. The target audience for this course is individuals who desire the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and respond to a disaster.
CERT Basic Training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. With training and practice, and by working as a team, you will be able to protect yourself and do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster. Medical or EMT experience is not required.
Schedule:
June 1: 6pm-9pm
June 2: 8am-5pm
June 3: 8am-3pm
June 9: 8am-1pm. Course completion and Disaster Simulation
Sign up: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aaacert-basic-training-late-spring-2018-tickets-45589869527?aff=eac2
Snacks/Lunch: On your own – suggest that you bring a bag lunch however, there are several fast food restaurants nearby.
Refunds: Last minute cancellations limit the opportunities for others to register. As such, refunds are only available 5 or more days prior to the beginning of class.
PRE-REQUISITES
The following two on-line FEMA Emergency Management Institute courses must be successfully completed prior to start of class on June 1. E-mail a PDF of the certificates or the links of the certificates to AAACERT Training. These classes are free (note: you will be required to get a Student ID (SID) which also is free). The classes are listed as 3 hours each in duration but, on the average, students complete them in a little more than half that time.
1. IS-100.B: Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100
2. IS-700.A: National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
Overall Course Objectives
Upon completing this course, the participants should be able to:
1. Describe the types of hazards that are most likely to affect their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods
2. Take steps to prepare themselves and their families for a disaster
3. Describe the functions of CERTs and their role in immediate response.
4. Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods
5. Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish a pan fire.
6. Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling excessive bleeding, and treating for shock
7. Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions.
8. Perform head-to-toe patient assessments.
9. Select and set up a treatment area.
10. Employ basic treatments for various injuries and apply splints to suspected fractures and sprains.
11. Identify planning and sizeup requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
12. Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
13. Work as a team to apply safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
14. Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue operations.Describe the post-disaster emotional environment and the steps that rescuers can take to relieve their own stressors and those of disaster survivors. Describe CERT organization and documentation requirements. In addition to the overall course objectives listed above, each unit has specific objectives.
Course outline:
Unit – 1 Disaster Preparedness
– Introductions and Overview
– Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities
– Hazards and Their Potential Impact
– Impact on the Infrastructure
– Home and Workplace Preparedness
– Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation
– CERT Disaster Response
– Protection for Disaster Workers
– Additional Training for CERTs
– Unit Summary
Unit – 2 Fire Safety and Utility Controls
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Fire Chemistry
– Fire and Utility Hazards
– CERT Sizeup
– Fire Sizeup Considerations
– Firefighting Resources
– Fire Suppression Safety
– Hazardous Materials
– Exercise: Suppressing Small Fires
– Unit Summary
Unit – 3 Disaster Medical Operations — Part 1
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Treating Life-Threatening Conditions
– Triage
– Unit Summary
Unit – 4 Disaster Medical Operations — Part 2
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Public Health Considerations
– Functions of Disaster Medical Operations
– Establishing Medical Treatment Areas
– Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments
– Treating Burns
– Wound Care
– Treating Fractures, Dislocations, Sprains, and Strains
– Nasal Injuries
– Treating Cold-Related Injuries
– Treating Heat-Related Injuries
– Bites and Stings
– Unit Summary
Unit – 5 Light Search and Rescue Operations
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Safety During Search and Rescue Operations
– Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations
– Conducting Rescue Operations
– Unit Summary
Unit – 6 CERT Organization
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– CERT Organization
– CERT Mobilization
– Documentation
– Activity: ICS Functions
– Activity: Tabletop Exercise
– Unit Summary
Unit – 7 Disaster Psychology
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Disaster Trauma
– Team Well-Being
– Working with Survivors’ Trauma
– Unit Summary
Unit – 8 Terrorism and CERT
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– What Is Terrorism?
– Terrorist Targets
– Terrorist Weapons
– CBRNE Indicators
– Preparing at Home, Work, and in Your Neighborhood
– CERTs and Terrorist Incidents
– Activity: Applying CERT Principles to a Suspected Terrorist Incident
– Unit Summary
Unit – 9 Functional Needs, Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Course Review
– Final Exam
– Disaster Simulation
Exercise Critique and Summary
Course dates/times/content subject to change. Changes will be made on this post.
You must complete all units in order to receive your Certificate of Completion.
Questions? Contact: AAACERT Training
We look forward to having you!
Be Prepared. Have a Plan.
CERT Basic Training Course: Summer and Fall 2017 Registration Now Open!
Dates for both July and September have been released and registration is open!
Schedule for Summer:
Friday, July 28: 6pm-9pm
Saturday, July 29: 8am-5pm
Sunday, July 30: 8am-3pm
Saturday, August 5: 8am-1pm (disaster simulation)
Click here to register for the summer session!
Schedule for Fall:
Friday, September 15: 6pm-9pm
Saturday, September 16: 8am-5pm
Sunday, September 17: 8am-3pm
Sunday, September, September 24: 8am-1pm (disaster simulation) (This is a change from the previously published date of Saturday, September 23).
Click here to register for the fall session!
Anne Arundel County Fire Training Academy
415 Maxwell Frye Road
Millersville, MD 21108
CERT Basic Training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. With training and practice, and by working as a team, you will be able to protect yourself and do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster.
The purpose of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training is to provide the individuals who complete this course with the basic skills that they will need to respond to their community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster, when emergency services are not immediately available. By working together, CERT members can assist in saving lives and protecting property using the basic techniques in this course. The target audience for this course is individuals who desire the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and respond to a disaster. Medical or EMT experience is not required.
Fee: $70.00 to cover the cost of the training manual, disposable first aid training supplies, and a CERT backpack.
Lunch: On your own – suggest that you bring a bag lunch however, there are several fast food restaurants nearby.
Attendees are required to attend all sessions to complete the class and obtain a certificate. For questions, please contact training@aaacert.org
Overall Course Objectives
Upon completing this course, the participants should be able to:
- Describe the types of hazards that are most likely to affect their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
2. Take steps to prepare themselves and their families for a disaster.
3. Describe the functions of CERTs and their role in immediate response.
4. Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
5. Work as a team to apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures to extinguish a pan fire.
6. Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling excessive bleeding, and treating for shock.
7. Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions.
8. Perform head-to-toe patient assessments.
9. Select and set up a treatment area.
10.Employ basic treatments for various injuries and apply splints to suspected fractures and sprains.
11.Identify planning and sizeup requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
12.Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
13.Work as a team to apply safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication.
14.Describe ways to protect rescuers during search and rescue operations.
15.Describe the post-disaster emotional environment and the steps that rescuers can take to relieve their own stressors and those of disaster survivors.
16.Describe CERT organization and documentation requirements. In addition to the overall course objectives listed above, each unit has specific objectives.
Course Outline
Unit – 1 Disaster Preparedness
– Introductions and Overview
– Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities
– Hazards and Their Potential Impact
– Impact on the Infrastructure
– Home and Workplace Preparedness
– Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation
– CERT Disaster Response
– Protection for Disaster Workers
– Additional Training for CERTs
– Unit Summary
Unit – 2 Fire Safety and Utility Controls
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Fire Chemistry
– Fire and Utility Hazards
– CERT Sizeup
– Fire Sizeup Considerations
– Firefighting Resources
– Fire Suppression Safety
– Hazardous Materials
– Exercise: Suppressing Small Fires
– Unit Summary
Unit – 3 Disaster Medical Operations — Part 1
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Treating Life-Threatening Conditions
– Triage
– Unit Summary
Unit – 4 Disaster Medical Operations — Part 2
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Public Health Considerations
– Functions of Disaster Medical Operations
– Establishing Medical Treatment Areas
– Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments
– Treating Burns
– Wound Care
– Treating Fractures, Dislocations, Sprains, and Strains
– Nasal Injuries
– Treating Cold-Related Injuries
– Treating Heat-Related Injuries
– Bites and Stings
– Unit Summary
Unit – 5 Light Search and Rescue Operations
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Safety During Search and Rescue Operations
– Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations
– Conducting Rescue Operations
– Unit Summary
Unit – 6 CERT Organization
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– CERT Organization
– CERT Mobilization
– Documentation
– Activity: ICS Functions
– Activity: Tabletop Exercise
– Unit Summary
Unit – 7 Disaster Psychology
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Disaster Trauma
– Team Well-Being
– Working with Survivors’ Trauma
– Unit Summary
Unit – 8 Terrorism and CERT
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– What Is Terrorism?
– Terrorist Targets
– Terrorist Weapons
– CBRNE Indicators
– Preparing at Home, Work, and in Your Neighborhood
– CERTs and Terrorist Incidents
– Activity: Applying CERT Principles to a Suspected Terrorist Incident
– Unit Summary
Unit – 9 Functional Needs, Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation
– Introduction and Unit Overview
– Course Review
– Final Exam
– Disaster Simulation
Exercise Critique and Summary
We look forward to having you!
Course dates/times/content subject to change. Changes will be made on this blog post.