The University of Houston’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), in partnership with the Office of Fire and Life Safety and the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, successfully completed a four-day Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training for members of the UH Community.
Over the course of the program, participants gained hands-on experience in essential disaster preparedness and response skills, ensuring that UH is better equipped to respond to emergencies on campus and within the broader Houston community.
CERT members were trained in:
- Disaster Preparedness: Understanding the hazards most likely to affect the UH community and how to prepare before, during, and after emergencies.
- Incident Command System (ICS): Learning the national framework for organizing and coordinating emergency response.
- Fire Suppression: Safely and effectively extinguishing small fires using fire extinguishers.
- Disaster Medical Operations: Triage, first aid, and basic medical treatment in a disaster setting.
- Search and Rescue: Techniques to safely locate, extricate, and transport survivors.
- Disaster Psychology: Recognizing the emotional and psychological impacts of disasters on survivors and responders.
- Terrorism Awareness: Identifying potential threats and understanding the role of CERT in supporting first responders during terrorism-related incidents.
At the end of the training, the CERT cohort displayed their skills in a disaster simulation drill. This training empowers our UH CERT members with the knowledge and confidence to step in when needed most.
The CERT program is designed to build community preparedness and resilience through training and volunteer response capabilities. UH CERT members are now better prepared to support professional first responders and assist fellow Cougars during emergencies.
For more information about CERT or how to get involved, For more information about CERT, visit the Office of Emergency training page.