What is CERT? 
 North Okaloosa Community Emergency  Response Team is a team of people who believe that emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility. By educating and training before a disaster happens, we hope to increase the resilience of our community and the safety of our neighbors, our families, and ourselves. 

The CERT program is a Citizen Corps program, sponsored by FEMA for the purpose of preparing community volunteers ahead of disasters. You can learn more about CERT as a whole at this website.  North Okaloosa CERT serves the communities of Crestview, Baker, Laurel Hill, Niceville and all other areas in North Okaloosa County, Florida. Although we are based there, we work frequently with other local CERTs in Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, Escambia County and elsewhere. 

What is CERT Training? 
Basic CERT training consists of a 20 hour Basic Course in which students learn the fundamental skills necessary in emergencies. Some of these skills include:
 

• Disaster Preparedness: Addresses hazards specific to the community. Materials cover actions that participants and their families take before, during and after a disaster as well as an overview of CERT and local laws governing volunteers.
• Fire Suppression: Covers fire chemistry, hazardous materials, fire hazards and fire suppression strategies. However, the thrust of this session is the safe use of fire extinguishers, controlling utilities and extinguishing a small fire.
• Medical Operations Part I: Participants practice diagnosing and treating airway obstruction, bleeding and shock by using simple triage and rapid treatment techniques.
• Medical Operations Part II: Covers evaluating patients by doing a head to toe assessment, establishing a medical treatment area and performing basic first aid.
• Light Search and Rescue Operations: Participants learn about search and rescue planning, size-up, search techniques, rescue techniques and rescuer safety.
• Psychology and Team Organization: Covers signs and symptoms that might be experienced by the disaster victim and workers, and addresses CERT organization and management.
• Course Review and Disaster Simulation: Participants review and practice the skills that they have learned during the previous six sessions in a disaster activity.

Once students have learned these skills, they will participate in a graduation exercise, a live-action disaster simulation in which their new skills will be put to use, assessing a disaster and assisting victims until professional responders arrive. We run the Basic Course twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.  We can/do conduct courses at other times if there are enough participants. 

CERT training is designed for adults 18 and older, although we are working with Crestview High School to put together a Teen CERT program for high-school students. All CERT members must pass a background check and will be issued credentials by the county to certify their membership. ​

Training doesn't end with the Basic Course. We have advanced courses in Emergency Communications, Firefighter Rehab, Traffic & Crowd Control, Ham Radio Technicians course, and More! Some of our team members are volunteer firefighters, EMTs, security guards, doctors, pastors, members of the armed forces, day care workers, and more. There is something for everyone in CERT. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed!