Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
You can now take Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Courses online or in-person!
Using training learned in the classroom and during in-person exercises, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
Do you know what to do when disaster strikes before professional help arrives? Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs until professional services arrive.
About the course:
CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during online and in-person training. CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies and include:
- Disaster Awareness and Preparedness
- Response Team Management
- Disaster Psychology
- Fire Suppression and Utilities Control
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Disaster Medical Operations
- Light Search and Rescue
- Terrorism Awareness
- Small Unit Leadership
Participants in the course learn skills that will enable them to provide emergency assistance to their families and neighbors as well as organize a neighborhood team response in the event of a major disaster. There will be no charge for the course or materials. The only cost incurred may be in upgrading your disaster supply kit at home (food, water, tools etc.).
The training course will involve instructions in light fire suppression, hazardous materials situations, first aid, light search and rescue techniques, and procedures in organizing CERTs to aid and assist in times of disaster. You do not need any special skills to participate, just the willingness to learn the skills necessary to survive a disaster. The in-person portion of the training program will involve some physical activity, such as using fire extinguishing equipment and rescue tools under the supervision of trained Fire Department personnel.
In-person sessions are scheduled by the Hayward Fire Department and are from 6 - 9 p.m. Class size is limited to 60 participants. No walk-ins, pre-registration is required. You are required to attend all five (5) classes in order to receive your certification.
All classes will take place at Fire Station #6 at W. Winton Ave. from 6-9 p.m.
Fall 2024 Session:
Class #1, Wednesday, Oct. 16
Class #2, Monday, Oct. 21
Class #3, Wednesday, Oct. 23
Class #4, Monday, Oct. 28
Skills #5, Wednesday, Oct. 30
Register for in-person classes here
Who can particpate:
The Hayward Fire Department hopes to fill these classes with individuals who are able to commit the time to complete all of the online or in-person classes and the in-person training exercise, who have a high interest in bettering their neighborhoods, and who have the potential to become leaders/organizers and share what they learn within their area of the city.
You must be 18 years or older to sign up and a resident of the City of Hayward or the Fairview Fire Protection Distict/Five Canyons area.
Residents who are interested in this free training can sign-up below.
Register for in-person classes here
