Maintaining a CERT Program
Step 3: Planning Continuing Training
Words of Advice: Tips for Planning Continuing Training
Click on a topic to review tips from experienced CERT Coordinators:
- Benefits of Continuing Education
- Continuing Training Is Vital
- Ask Volunteers About Their Training Needs
- Keeping Volunteers Updated
- Keeping the CERT Graduate Involved
- Offer Ongoing Training for CERT Graduates
Dale Kleos - Whatcom County, Washington
Benefits of Continuing Education
The most beneficial thing we do is continuing education–after the class is over we don't let it drop. More than half of our continuing education deals with embellishing what we taught in the course; the other half deals with other emergency or disaster-related subjects that weren't addressed in the CERT program but are of interest.
Stew Anderson - Natrona County, Wyoming
Continuing Training Is Vital
Continuing training is vital to the program. We offer CPR, terrorism awareness, wildland firefighting assistance, and advanced firefighting. In addition, our volunteers participate in disaster exercises with our local fire department.
Frank Lucier - San Francisco, California
Ask Volunteers About Their Training Needs
CERT volunteers know what skills they are comfortable with and the ones that they are not. If you have painted a realistic disaster picture for them during the training, they know what type of additional training will make them more effective in a disaster. Ask them what they need. One size doesn't fit all. A team of senior citizens needs different types of continuing training than does a student team at the local high school.
Joe Lowry - Memphis, Tennessee
Keeping Volunteers Updated
CERT volunteers must keep up to date on the changes in the community. We keep volunteers up to date by:
- Including informational pieces in the newsletter.
- Scheduling monthly meetings for graduates and interested individuals to attend.
- Conducting refresher training.
- Re-certifying everyone.
Our local government and businesses sponsor community exercises in cooperation with local emergency services agencies so the teams can participate in annual exercises.
We post a calendar of monthly training and exercises on our website. We encourage all citizens to take part in emergency training exercises.
Jennifer Teeler - City of Federal Way, Washington
Keeping the CERT Graduate Involved
One of the challenges in any CERT program is keeping volunteers engaged and involved after they have completed the CERT course. The City of Federal Way, Washington has used a number of techniques to do this including using CERT graduates as volunteers for projects such as installing smoke detectors in area homes, publishing a CERT newsletter, and having CERT members staff a booth at our community fair.
One of the most successful ways we have kept volunteers involved in the program is by offering continuing education classes for CERT graduates. These classes can also contribute valuable skills and information to the graduate's toolbox of knowledge gained through the CERT course.
Click this link to access the Connection article titled "Keeping the CERT Graduate Involved."
Olga Arroyo - Orlando, Florida
Offer Ongoing Training for CERT Graduates
Since the program began in 1994, we have trained over 650 CERT members. Each of these members is active and willing to be ready if a disaster hits the City of Orlando. In January 2002, our first class of First Responder was initiated and it was a success with a total of 25 participants. Six of the participants have successfully passed the exam for First Responder on July 2002 by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Each year we plan to have this class as an ongoing training for our CERT graduates.
Click this link to access the Connection article titled "Continuing Education in Orlando."
Click on this link to visit the City of Orlando CERT website.