Community Emergency Response Team Training

Next date: Tuesday, September 01, 2026 | 06:30 PM to 09:30 PM

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is a national program designed to prepare Palo Alto residents to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors in the event of a disaster. The training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available.

Over the course of three weeks, CERT members receive training in earthquake awareness, disaster fire suppression techniques, disaster medical operations, first aid/CPR, and light search-and-rescue, as well as team organization and management. CERT training culminates with a disaster simulation and comprehensive course review.

All classes are taught by trained instructors with an emphasis on hands-on practice. Following a disaster, CERT teams can extinguish small fires, turn off gas inlets to damaged homes, perform light search and rescue, and render basic first aid. The CERT program provides an effective response capability.

Course Schedule: CERT Basic Training will begin Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and will meet in person on September 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Field Day is Saturday, September 19, noon - 4 p.m.

Note: CERT members who have not been to a CERT refresher course within the past five years are encouraged to attend this CERT training again.

CERT Basic Course Registration

Learn more about the Palo Alto CERT Program at paloalto.gov/cert