A different look at CERT training - Levels-based Training

Hi CERT members!

I recently had the privilege to chat with one of the leaders of a Northern California CERT program.  He introduced me to their "Levels" training.  In their program once you finish the Basic CERT training, you are welcomed to the team and he reported that many people decide to stop at that level.

However, they also have advanced training for those who wish to become more proficient in a wide variety of disaster operations.  There also is some sort of recognition for those who reach those higher levels of readiness but I didn't get any specifics on that aspect of the program.

He pointed me to their website for specifics on the advanced training and I was very impressed so I would like to share some excerpts of what I found with you.

Level One
This is the basic CERT training that is a part of all CERT programs and ends with a disaster simulation.

Level Two
Requires the completion of 2 American Red Cross (ARC) classes - Disaster Services Overview and Shelter Operations (a background check may be required).  In addition, the National Incident Management System IS-100, 200, 700 and 800b courses are required.

Level Three
Requires the completion of the Emergency Medical Responder course (either ARC Emergency Response or ASHI Emergency Medical Responder) and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.  Licensing as an EMT or health care professional also qualifies you for this level.

Additional Advanced Training is also offered (some of which are offered in the San Diego CERT program).

An 8 hour module on Wild-land Fire/Urban Interface
A 4 hour course on Hazardous Materials Awareness
A 4 hour course in Traffic Control
A 10 hour course on Flooding and Swift Water Awareness
A state-wide, CERT Instructor Training program
Other Training
Many other topics such as map reading and navigation, Pet First Aid, Helicopter Safety and Auto Extrication are also offered for their CERT Level 2 and 3 members.  They have also partnered with other programs for cross-training of CERT members in areas such as Urban Search & Rescue (US&R), the Chaplaincy Program and the Animal Response Team.

As I stated earlier, I was very impressed with their "Levels" program.  It would be nice to see something like that available for CERT programs everywhere.

Terry Walters
Mira Mesa CERT

Mira Mesa CERT Newsletter 12/11/2012

Good morning, here is the News:

Team Meetings—You can see our Team's meetings and other Team's meetings here:

https://apps.sandiego.gov/ereg/cert/courses.php?grp=Team+Meetings

In any month where we do not have a team meeting here in Mira Mesa, you can attend another  Team's meeting and get credit for it, or, if you really need a meeting credit and can't get to our scheduled meeting, we can usually work something out so you can attend another meeting and get credit.  Please remember, you only need two team meetings a year, and the credits don't accumulate to the next year, so once you have attended two meetings you have satisfied the requirement.  Of course, we hope you will go to as many meetings as you can manage, they are educational and help you stay informed.

Reporting Your Hours—We had some great CE's at the beginning of the month (hose loading and collapse survival). They both count for December, but if you went, you have to report them.  To repeat what I said last night in our meeting, Jennifer and I DO NOT get copies of the sign in sheets for CE's, Refreshers or anything other than our own team meetings.  You report your hours, we send a report to our leadership which is accumulated into a report for our battalion (we're in Battalion 5), this is then sent to our Program Manager who audits the reports against the sign-in sheets.  Yup, it's complicated, but it begins with you .  If you do not report your hours in the month that you attended an event, then you will not get credit.   It's tough, but San Diego CERT is way too large to do much else.  So, when you get a request for your hours at the end of a month (usually in this Newsletter), please respond with an email with a unique subject line such as "December Hours", and then list the date, name of the course, Instructor and number of hours you spent.  This also applies to Team Meetings, when you attend our monthly meeting, please report it.   If the class you took is not one of ours, please be sure to get a copy of whatever completion certificate they provide, digitally if possible, you will need to provide an electronic copy along with your hours.  If you have ANY doubt about a class' eligibility for CE credit, please ask for confirmation from us BEFORE you take the class.  Getting approval after the fact almost never happens, because we really want to encourage you to do it before.   If you have no hours to report for any given month, you do not have to send a report.

December Hours—What we said above about hours applies for the general case.  However, if you are going away for the holidays please report your hours before you go.  We'll make an exception for December.

My Absence—This next Monday I will be undergoing hip replacement surgery.  I wore it out.  So I will be out of the picture for at least a few weeks.  During that time our Assistant Team Leader Jennifer Tang will assume my duties.  So, from 17 December on, if you have a question, please direct it to Jennifer at zhinan@gmail.com.  Most likely we will suspend the News for a few weeks, unless there is an important announcement.  We will resume as soon as possible.

Best of the Holiday Season to you all, and thank you again for your commitment to CERT.  You make a difference.

-Steve