Of the additional trianing one can get beyond CERT, first aid is arguably the most important for the paramedics will be overwhelmed in a mzjor disaster.  What you can do for yourself and your loved ones and neighbors may be all there is available.  Unfortunately there are few if any courses available between the  Red Cross' 4hr. first aid class and more the Emergency Response Advanced First Aid course (number 32600), approximately 58 hours course which once finished, can be used for advanced to CERT 3.  

Should you want professional first aid classes there are options.  At the approximately 90 hour level of training is the Medical First Responder training.  This is a pre-EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training.  This training qualifies one to sit for the National EMT Registry Medical First Responder examination.  Unlike other states, LA County and California do not recognize and certifiy First Responders.  While they may not use the term First Responder, most police officers in California and beyond are trained to this level. 

However many have noted, that if one is to invest this much time, one might as well go ahead and take the EMT course which is about 190 hours of training and become a full-fledged EMT.  Most firefighters and ambulance attendants have this level of training.  If you do an internet search for EMT you will find trainings at local community colleges and private providers. 

The CERT instructors in LA (City) Fire Department, are at least EMTs and some are full fledged paramedics, with about 450 hours of training.   

There are also wilderness and ski versions of these certifications which includes search and rescue.  This training focuses on emergency medicine while engaged in wildnerness activities.  These trainings are typical offered by private providers, often located in Colorado.   The National Ski Patrol www.nsp.org offers is winter outdoor emergency training - also see www.OECzone.com.  All these certifications require periodic recertification. 

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In the CERT class, you had about 45 minutes of instruction on the Incident Command System (ICS).  If you want to be prepared to work in or even manage emergencies which are larger than what a handful of people can handle, then further training along these lines would be useful (see NIMS Integration/ ICS Page).

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Once you have completed the CERT course offered by the Los Angeles (City) Fire Department (LAFD) you might have noticed that LAFD has a very specific boundaries around the job of a CERT volunteer.  You might have noticed in class, the LAFD CERT instructor did not want to teach you things they think are too dangerous.  Indeed the typical CERT course participant is middle aged or older and out of shape.  They are not capable of doing much in the area of Search and Rescue (SAR).  However there are those who may be able to safely do SAR and may want to visit the SAR City page which follows.  Whatever you decide, please accept responsibility for functioning with your own limitations.   There is a chance of you getting yourself injured or killed and putting the rescue operation and victims in further danger if you do not know and pay attention to your limitations.  

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The Office of the Mayor in Los Angeles has a program which is not necessarily related to disaster preparedness but can be.  The Crisis Response Team is a program offered through the Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As a volunteer member of the Crisis Response Team you are activated by the L.A. Police and Fire Departments to provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention, emotional support and referrals to victims and their families involved in a traumatic incident such as:

Major Traffic Accidents                        

Homicides

Death Notification Assistance 

Multi-Casualty Incidents

Drive-by Shootings 

Natural Deaths

Fires  

Suicides

CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM- Office of the Mayor

Homeland Security & Public Safety Department

200 North Spring Street,Room 303 * Los Angeles, CA 90012

Jeff Zimerman, M.S.W., CRT Manager

Phone: (213) 978-0697  Fax: (213) 978-0718

E-mail: lacrt@lacity.org