The Sarasota County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area. CERT members learn to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT training consists of the following modules:

• Disaster preparedness: Instructs team members how to prepare themselves and their community for the various types of hazards that may occur.
• Team organization and disaster psychology: Learn to work well in a team setting under stressful emergency event.
• Fire safety: Covers proper techniques for preventing and extinguishing small fires.
• Medical operations: Conduct triage, establish medical treatment areas, and provide basic first aid for victims.
• Basic search and rescue: Learn search and rescue planning, techniques, and rescuer safety.
• Terrorism Awareness: Define terrorism, terrorist goals, weapons, and indicators of a terrorist attack.

For questions regarding CERT within Sarasota County please call 311.