FREE Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
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.
CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during 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 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 training program will involve some physical activity, such as using fire extinguishing equipment and rescue tools under the supervision of trained Fire Department personnel.
The course is scheduled once a week for five consecutive weeks. Space is limited and class fills rapidly. All correspondence will be electronic, if interested sign-up by using the email process below. Each email is time/date stamped in the order received to ensure your placement on the interest list.
What we expect from you: The Hayward Fire Department hopes to fill this series of classes with individuals who are able to commit the time to attend all classes and the 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.
The Hayward Fire Department is providing a free CERT Training Program which will consist of 4 evening indoor classes and 1 outdoor “hands on” skills class. Participants learn skills that will enable them to provide emergency assistance to their families and immediate neighbors as well as organize a neighborhood team response. Residents must pre-enroll into this class.
This is not a “Drop-in” training program.
Class #1, Monday, May 1, 6-9:30pm @ Hayward City Hall
Class #2, Monday, May 8, 6-9:30pm @ Hayward City Hall
Class #3, Monday, May 15, 6-9:30pm @ Hayward City Hall
Class #4, Monday, May 22, 6-9:30pm @ Hayward City Hall
Skills #5, Tuesday, May 29, 6-9:30pm (Fire Station #6 W. Winton)
You must attend all classes in order to receive certification. CERT training is for all City of Hayward and Fairview residents. Residential verification will be required during the final application process.
You must be 18 years or older to sign up and a resident of the City of Hayward or the Fairview area.
Residents who are interested in this free training can sign-up via eso@hayward-ca.gov. Residents will then need to enter only their name, phone number and address in the email. You will receive notification back by email acknowledging your enrollment into the program and further directions.
If without internet access or more information is needed, contact: The Public Education Officer at 510.583.4948
