Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:

·        Manage utilities and put out small fires.

·        Treat the three medical killers by opening airways,
     controlling bleeding, and treating for shock.

·        Provide basic medical aid.

·        Search for and rescue victims safely.

·        Organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to
     be effective.

·        Collect disaster intelligence to support first responder
    efforts.

 For more details, see the Cert Syllabus.

WHY DO THE CERT TRAINING?

Well, it's like paying for car insurance. You might never need either; you'd hope not to. But if the occasion arises, having the CERT training, just like having car insurance, means you're as ready as you can be to help yourself, your family and your neighborhood. Click Here to view Quarterly Division Training Sessions.

HOW DO I JOIN?

CERT members receive 17 ½ hours (one day a week for seven weeks) of initial training. The 7-week course is followed by full-day biannual refresher drills, and an opportunity to assist the LAFD at local incidents.

CERT is provided free of charge within the city of Los Angeles to anyone 18 or over. Click here to view important information about CERT meetings.

See the current schedule of classes.

Bi-annual Refresher Drill

The last bi-annual Refresher Drill was scheduled for Sunday, October 22, 2006.  This was a great time to reinforce the skills that were learned in the classroom.  

The Westdale CERT maintains a large container of emergency equipment and supplies on the grounds of the Mar Vista Elementary School at 3330 Granville Avenue.  This will be our Incident Command Center in the event of a disaster. 

In the event of a disaster, all trained CERT members should first insure that their families are safe and secure and then are urged to report to the Incident Command center to begin neighborhood disaster operations.  Untrained individuals and those with medical training are also urged to report to the IC as there will be much to do for both trained and untrained responders.  CERT responders should bring their CERT safety supplies (helmet, vest, goggles, gloves etc.).  All responders should bring water and snack food. If possible bring leather gloves and eye protection as we have only a limited supply.

For any further information about the Westdale Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), please contact Carl Ginsberg.
Phone 310-390-6112, email c.ginsberg@verizon.net

For more information on the Los Angeles Fire Department and CERT, please visit:

www.cert-la.com

Westdale CERT is sponsored by the Westdale Homeowners Association.