A community emergency response team, also known as CERT, is a group of individuals that work together to ensure that their local area is prepared in the event of an emergency. This group will prepare different types of emergency response kits, provide support to first responders in an emergency situation, distribute safety information to citizens in the community and help develop projects to keep the neighborhood safe. Some of these individuals will even take special safety classes for working with CERT products while others may have experience working as security officers, firemen, paramedic or other types of emergency responders.
A CERT team will be prepared to respond to any emergency with a variety of emergency supplies which are an important part of response efforts. First, many kits will include flashlights to provide light in the event of a power outage. These flashlights may run on battery power, solar power or may be operated by a hand crank. Some of these flashlights also include an AM/FM radio, a blinking light and a lantern. Special LED flashlights can also be clipped to hats for hands-free lighting. All of these are important tools of an emergency response team. Other CERT products include whistles and bullhorns. Whistles can be used to draw attention while bullhorns can be used to speak to large crowds or as a way to be heard over other loud noises during an emergency.
Many community emergency response teams use first aid guides, emergency manuals and other similar CERT products. These informational documents can provide step-by-step procedures for common emergency situations. They also include useful forms that can be filled out as a way to keep records during an emergency, including victim medical treatment and equipment resources. Most response kits also include basic first aid care such as tissues, gloves, face masks and sanitizer. Other items that may be used during disaster response include stretchers to transport injured victims, red tape for marking off affected areas and even weather thermometers.
Finally, many CERT teams choose to purchase apparel that can help to distinguish them from other people in the event of an emergency. By standing out from the crowd, these individuals can easily give directions and keep order in an otherwise chaotic situation. These types of CERT products can include mesh safety vests and other neon clothing, CERT hats, shirts, patches, hard hats and other identification tags so that first responders, other CERT team members, and the community know who to turn to for help.
A CERT team will be prepared to respond to any emergency with a variety of emergency supplies which are an important part of response efforts. First, many kits will include flashlights to provide light in the event of a power outage. These flashlights may run on battery power, solar power or may be operated by a hand crank. Some of these flashlights also include an AM/FM radio, a blinking light and a lantern. Special LED flashlights can also be clipped to hats for hands-free lighting. All of these are important tools of an emergency response team. Other CERT products include whistles and bullhorns. Whistles can be used to draw attention while bullhorns can be used to speak to large crowds or as a way to be heard over other loud noises during an emergency.
Many community emergency response teams use first aid guides, emergency manuals and other similar CERT products. These informational documents can provide step-by-step procedures for common emergency situations. They also include useful forms that can be filled out as a way to keep records during an emergency, including victim medical treatment and equipment resources. Most response kits also include basic first aid care such as tissues, gloves, face masks and sanitizer. Other items that may be used during disaster response include stretchers to transport injured victims, red tape for marking off affected areas and even weather thermometers.
Finally, many CERT teams choose to purchase apparel that can help to distinguish them from other people in the event of an emergency. By standing out from the crowd, these individuals can easily give directions and keep order in an otherwise chaotic situation. These types of CERT products can include mesh safety vests and other neon clothing, CERT hats, shirts, patches, hard hats and other identification tags so that first responders, other CERT team members, and the community know who to turn to for help.
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