2025 CERT Academy Schedule coming soon!

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Citizens' Academy program is sponsored through a partnership between Santa Clara City Officials, Fire Department Staff, and Firefighters' Local Union #1171 for the citizens of Santa Clara.

CERT training is held at Fire Station 2 / Training Center located at:
1900 Walsh Ave. in Santa Clara.

The Santa Clara Community Emergency Response Team program is designed to help the citizens of Santa Clara to be self-sufficient after a major disaster, when the scope of incidents can be overwhelming, and the need for a well-trained civilian work force can be invaluable. A major earthquake in the City of Santa Clara will cause damage to homes, roads, and other structures. Electricity, gas, water and phone service may be interrupted. Local resources will be overwhelmed with hundreds of emergency calls. You can help your family, your neighborhood, your business, and your community to recover by becoming part of or leading a Community Emergency Response Team.

As a community service, firefighters from the City's Fire Department train participants in neighborhoods and workplaces to be part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Through CERT, organizations and trained volunteers can serve as first responders until professional forces arrive. The motto of CERT is "To do the most good for the most people" in the event of a disaster.

The goals of CERT are:

• To promote household self-sufficiency
• To promote community self-sufficiency; and
• To organize for effective emergency response by coordinating the efforts of paid and volunteer responders.

Since the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program began in 1995, an estimated 1,500 participants have learned about the City's emergency organization and have received the 20 hour training. CERT graduates are located throughout the City and are an integral part in the City's emergency response efforts. The training covers the following:

• Safety
• Basic Medical Care
• Awareness
• Damage Assessment
• Preparation
• Light Search and Rescue
• Utility Control
• Communications
• Fire Suppression
• CERT Team Management

A small nominal fee covers the cost of materials. More individuals belonging to schools, churches, businesses, and other community organizations are being assembled to take the CERT training or are being targeted for training in an attempt to have every neighborhood in the City with a functioning civilian disaster emergency response team.

The Communications team at Cal OES created this informational video on CERT.

Consider becoming part of the team! For more information on the Santa Clara CERT program, send an email to FDCERT@santaclaraca.gov or call the City's Office of Emergency Services at 408-615-4942.

• CERT Training Program Brochure (PDF)
• 24 Basic Key Items To Have In An Emergency (PDF)
• BLS Adult Basic Life Support Algorithm

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