The Federal Emergency Management Agency, using the model created by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1986. Since then, hundreds of communities across the United States have established their own CERT programs.

The City and County of Denver, Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management is using the LAFD model to develop Preparedness, Awareness and Readiness Training (Take PART) Courses/Basic Citizen Emergency Response Training as a partnering effort between emergency services and the people they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train citizens of our community in basic preparedness and skills.

 

If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, citizens can better protect themselves by applying the preparedness skills that they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain their lives following a disaster until help arrives. "Take PART/Denver's Basic CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies.

 

"Take PART/Denver's Basic CERT  will teach citizens to: 

 

•  Describe the types of hazards most likely to affect their homes and communities.
•  Describe the function of CERT and their roles in immediate personal response.
•  Take steps to prepare themselves for a disaster.
•  Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in their homes and workplaces.
•  Apply basic fire suppression strategies, resources, and safety measures.
•  Apply techniques for opening breathing airways, controlling bleeding, and treating shock.
• Conduct triage under simulated conditions.
• Perform head-to-toe assessments.
• Employ basic treatments for various wounds.
• Identify planning and size-up requirements for potential search and rescue situations.
• Describe the most common techniques for searching a structure.
• Learn to assemble their 72 hours kit.