Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The CERT program is an eight-week course with benefits to participants as described below. For more information, contact the Crime Prevention Section at (630) 543-3080. 

What is the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program? 
The CERT program is an eight-week program designed to provide residents with an opportunity to become trained in basic response skills needed when a disaster or major emergency happens. The training consists of a series of classes held once a week. There is no cost for residents to participate.

Each class topic will provide basic training for that topic (preparedness, medical operations, fire suppression, light search and rescue). There will also be several hands-on demonstrations in order for participants to get a feel for what is needed to respond to large scale situations where first responders might be delayed. The classes will be taught by Addison Police Department and Addison Fire Protection District personnel.

The training will conclude with a graduation ceremony. Each participant will receive a certificate of completion, a backpack containing emergency equipment, and unique CERT member gear identifying them as being trained in the CERT program.

Why Participate?
The Addison Police Department is committed to the philosophy of Community Oriented Policing and is committed to developing partnerships with its citizens of the Village.

The CERT program provides an opportunity for residents to become trained volunteers who can assist first responders in emergency situations in their community. CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies and can provide immediate assistance to victims until first responders can arrive.

Benefits
Residents who participate in the CERT program are given training that helps them develop the necessary skills to offer immediate help to themselves, family members, and neighbors and also to respond and assist the Addison Police Department and the Addison Fire Protection District in a time of great need. Residents are also able to apply this information to day-to-day smaller emergency situations.

Who can attend?
Participants must be at least 18 years of age. An application for the program must be completed, which will be subject to a background check before final acceptance for the class. For an application, click here.  Applications can also be picked up in the lobby or by requesting an application from the Crime Prevention Section at (630) 543-3080.

What the program is NOT.
The CERT program is not intended to train individuals to take the place of trained first responder personnel. The training is designed to train individuals in the community to supplement the capability of first responders and are a resource to be used by them in the case of a major disaster or emergency.

Class Topics

• Disaster Preparedness
• Disaster Medical Operations
• Light Search and Rescue
• Team Organization
• Disaster Psychology
• Terrorism and CERT
• Practical Final Training Exercise