People often mistakenly assume CPR and 1st aid are taught in the CERT class.  It is not.  LA Fire Department CERT instructors recommend learning CPR and 1st aid as does the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES).  

CERT is about handling mass casualty incidents (MCI).  In an MCI the victims outnumber the rescuers.  After taking CERT you will be a rescuer - but you will be instructed by LAFD to act within your training.  CERT teaches people to do the most good for the most number of people.  CPR is a very time consuming procedure.  In the time it takes to do CPR in a MCI, several people who only needed a simple procedure such as clear the airway or stop the bleeding may die. 

However it is understandable that some CERT trained people may want to focus on one casualty and take the time to do CPR if it is a loved one.  There will be other situtations, not necessarily major emergencies, in which learning CPR and first aid are useful.  

CERT is free.  It is paid for by taxpayers and taught by firefighters on city time.  CPR and First aid come from the Red Cross.  The Red Cross primarily funds it disaster response work from monies earned from CPR and fistr aid training.   Sometimes we are able to set up an optional CPR and/or first aid classes for CERT graduates and others who are interested and willing to pay the fee.  

Please visit Helping Neighbors CPR; authorized American Red Cross instructors who specialize in working with CERT people and nieghborhood councils and other neighborhood groups: www.CPR.bappy.com