Free CERT Training Offered by Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program prepares citizens to safely help themselves, their families, and their communities in the event of major disasters where first responders are delayed.

Registration is OPEN for the following classes: All classes are free, and students will receive CERT disaster response gear at no charge. Space is limited!

* CERT 100 meets at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy; class will meet on both Monday and Wednesday nights from 7-10:30PM. Class dates are September 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30, and October 5 and 7.

* CERT 101 also meets at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy; class will meet on both Monday and Wednesday nights from 7-10:30PM. Class dates are October 14, 19, 21, 26, 28, and November 2, 4, and 9.

* CERT 102 meets at the Old Firehouse Teen Center in McLean; class will meet Tuesday nights from 7-10:30PM. Class dates are September 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27, and November 3.

* CERT 103 meets at the Lorton Volunteer Fire Department in Lorton; class will meet Wednesday nights from 7-10:30PM. Class dates are September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28, and November 4 and 11.

Students must attend all classes to get a certificate. See below for more information on what you can expect from CERT training and how to complete the registration process.

What Is CERT Training? Scenario: Severe thunderstorms -- like 2012's derecho, only worse -- strike Fairfax County, causing widespread flooding, power outages, and road closures. Many buildings are damaged; people are injured; and 911 is overwhelmed and unreachable. If your neighborhood was affected, would you know what to do? The Community Emergency Response Team program (CERT) teaches emergency preparedness and disaster response skills to regular people, so that they can safely help themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods during major emergencies where first responders may be delayed. Taught by experienced instructors from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and CERT volunteer instructors, the free training combines 25 hours of classroom learning with hands-on training. CERT students learn disaster preparedness, light search and rescue techniques, disaster medicine, fire suppression, lifting and cribbing, and other necessary skills. At the end of training, students put all their new skills to use responding to a simulated disaster in a realistic, half-day field training exercise.

Where and When Is CERT Training? Fairfax County CERT classes are generally held in the spring and fall at the Fire and Rescue Academy in Fairfax (the same facility where Fairfax County's firefighters train), meeting for seven classes in the evenings from 7-10:30 PM, either weekly or twice-weekly.

CERT Training for Your Group - In addition, for members of faith-based groups, workplaces, homeowners' or condo associations, and other community organizations, if you can bring together a minimum of 12 people interested in taking CERT training and can provide somewhere to train (like a clubhouse, community room, or other meeting space), we'll send CERT instructors out to you, free! If you're interested in getting CERT training for your group, please email training@fairfaxcountycert.org for more information.

Who Can Take CERT Training? All people 16 years or older who live, work, worship, or spend significant time in Fairfax County are eligible for CERT training. Students of all abilities are welcome to participate.

How Do I Sign Up for CERT Training? Signups for CERT training and volunteer opportunities are managed through Fairfax County's volunteer management system. Please go to volunteer.fairfaxcounty.gov To register for free CERT Training, you'll need to set up a volunteer profile:

1. If you're signing up for a specific class, click on that class's listing. Otherwise, go to the "Interested in CERT" opportunity (http://bitly.com/InterestCERT). Then, click "Apply."

2. Click the "New Volunteer Sign Up" button and create a profile by entering your information in the required fields. (If you already have a Fairfax County volunteer account, you can sign in with that.) Throughout the year, CERT students can also learn new skills, take refresher courses, and participate in additional training exercises. More information is available at the Fairfax County volunteer management site; please visit http://volunteer.fairfaxcounty.gov and search for "CERT." (Note: Some CERT training activities are only available to people who have completed the full CERT training course.)

Does CERT Training Cost Anything? CERT training is free to students. In addition, CERT students are given a backpack filled with disaster response and personal protective equipment, including a helmet, reflective vest, pry tool, headlamp, and more.

Register for free CERT training now!