25 Market St   Aberdeen, SD 57401

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About Cert


CERT is training program that prepares you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in that event of a disaster. During an incident, emergency service personnel may not be able to reach everyone right away. By getting the training in CERT, you will have the skills to help emergency responders save lives and protect property. 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.

As a member of a CERT team you can respond to disasters, participate in drills, and exercises, and take additional training. CERT teams are know and trusted resources to emergency responders and their communities.

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

You will be TRAINED

The CERT course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders who have the requisite knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. This training furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their abilityCERT kitto safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors.

You will be EQUIPPED

You will receive recognition for completing the CERT training. You will be issued ID cards, vests, and helmets. You will also receive a CERT Kit of personal protection equipment and tools.

You will be INVOLVED

When you have completed the CERT training, it is important to keep involved and practiced your skills. You will be offered periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training. Your local CERT teams also sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood clean up, and disaster education fairs which will keep you involved and trained. Brown County currently has five active CERT teams.