CERT training may be a way for your whole family to get involved. It is a FEMA based program. You get a group together. It may be your neighborhood, your work place, your volunteer organization, church, whatever. You take 18-21 hr training course, usually given in 3 hr segments over several weeks. Basic first aid, fire extingisher, some buiding stabilization, a few other things. <br><br>Then the local Emergency Management can call on your team to assist in needed. Your team provides your own support but at least you have some basic training. Since it is a volunteer organization, your entire family can participate. The training is taught by local EMS, Fire, Rescue, and law enforcement. That way you get to know them and they get a sense of the dedication of your group.<br><br>The training slides are available on the web. The instructor guides are also available. These are just overhead slide presentation material and do not inculde all the information you would hope to get in a training session but would give you an idea of what to expect. <br><br>Search the web for existing CERT teams and what they have done. <br><br>The program was designed in California to encourage local neighborhoods to provide basic relief post earthquake when emergency services are streched to the limit with long response times. The idea was that your immediate neighbors will respond anyway. Why not give them some basic training to reduce their injuries, make them more effect and enpower the PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. to take care of themselves.<br><br>Even if your CERT team never responds and disbands immediately after the training, you got some training, you met some people in public safety, and have begun to get some tools and knowledge to help yourself.<br><br>You could get the training on your own. The first aid training in similar to the basic Red Cross training. Fire extinisher training can be taught for $10 per person in a hour. Stabilization is just using lumber like lincon logs to support structures.<br><br>I am a member of a rescue squad. We are on the state resource list to be called up if needed. We are expected to care for ourselves the first 72 hours. Our response vehicles are filled with rescue equipment and when we all bring our personal supplies, it can be crowded. Response agencies are often put under an equal amount of strain and lack of provisions as the refugees. The major difference is we have volunteered for such conditions and our mind set is different. We realize that no one will save us, it is up to us to not only save ourselves but others. Even so, it is nice to find a place to take a shower, get some hot food, and sleep undisturbed for a while.