That's it for 2021. Thanks everyone!

Let's take a training & events break for the holidays, relax, spend time with family & friends and resume next year. Individual neighborhoods may continue as they wish - we never want to slow neighborhood momentum. Of course, we will jump back into action if there is an emergency affecting our community; otherwise, we look forward to seeing you again in the 1st quarter of 2022. We are always here for you at coastsidecert@gmail.com

This is the new way to take CERT Basic Training - Start Now and

Graduate 1st QTR 2022

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact the Coastside and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, earthquake survival skills, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Coastside CERT basic training also offers additional instruction in medical triage, basic radio communication, neighborhood emergency response organization, evacuation information, and tips for surviving a fire in the Tom Lantos tunnels.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during CERT exercises, members can assist their community or workplace following an emergency event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Coastside CERT Hybrid Basic Training is a powerful and informative course in actionable local emergency preparedness knowledge.

The course is FREE. You will receive a CERT manual (online/hardcopy) as you begin the class and CERT backpack kit at the In Person Training Day.

This free training includes an online portion followed-up by an in-person, hands-on, practical training day led by Division Chief David Cosgrave at Coastside Fire Station 40 in Half Moon Bay. Date TBD

ONLINE LECTURE PORTION OF YOUR TRAINING

• Estimated Time = 12 hours (some have finished in much faster and others have taken longer)

• Access it on your mobile device or computer.

• Complete it at your pace and at your convenience.

• Course progress will be saved and can be resumed later.

• You will receive the link to the online portion of your training once you register.

• After completing the Basic Training course there is one more module in Medical Triage to be completed before the In Person Training Day. This triage module has only recently been added to the Hybrid CERT online program but is strongly encouraged for all CERTs in California. There is a one-hour online portion and then the Chief will "localize" the content for the Coastside during the Zoom Q&A he provides for each class.

How to access the Triage online module:

• 1. Go to https://csti-ca.csod.com

• 2. Register for an account. (Green icon with light bulb.)

• 3. Login

• 4. Click on Browse Training (Binocular icon - Yellow gold icon 2nd from left.)

• 5. Scroll down to "Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Course - Hybrid Training Triage Module" noted by blue monitor. (Next course listed after Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Course - Hybrid Training)

• 6. Launch Training (allow pop-ups)

• 7. Take the training (the small arrows to advance slides are at very bottom right of screen)

• 8. Please forward the Triage module completion certificate to coastsidecert@gmail.com

• Chief Cosgrave held a Zoom Q & A and Instruction session on October 19 from 6:30-8:30 PM with all registered students for the Fall CERT 2021 class who had completed or were actively working on the online training modules to provide localized Coastside knowledge to their CERT training and answer any questions you may have. With a genuine passion for teaching, Chief Cosgrave weaves his three decades of Coastside first responder experiences in and out of FEMA's basic training curriculum with threads of practical life-saving skills, relatable stories to boost your Coastside survival IQ, and a wicked sense of humor. He knows where all the bodies are buried, so to speak (says he won't tell ;), and shares his amazing experiences to teach you, your family, and your neighbors how to stay safe.

  • Link to the recording of the Zoom Q & A and Instruction session on October 19

• Certificate of online completion in both Basic Training & Medical Triage must be emailed to coastsidecert@gmail.com by to reserve your place in the next in-person Training Day and Graduation. Our next in-person Training Day will be held during the 1st Qtr. of 2022

IN-PERSON, HANDS-ON, PRACTICAL PORTION OF YOUR TRAINING

• Estimated Time = 7 hrs

• Date and Time: 9:00 AM-4:00 PM Date TBD

• Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St., Half Moon Bay, 94019

• All COVID-19 precautions will be observed: masks and gloves, social distancing, handwashing, and sanitizing.

• Must attend full day in order to receive final certificate of course completion. You will be a full-fledged CERT graduate by end of this session.

• Chief Cosgrave has designed the in-person training day based on localized knowledge and the Hybrid CERT curriculum checklist. No slides. The emphasis is on learning by doing: Instructors demonstrate and students practice the skills, progressing from one skill station to another followed by team participation in disaster simulations.

If you have any questions, please contact Coastside CERT Program Coordinator Cynthia Sherrill (coastsidecert@gmail.com)

Thank you! You can do this!

Additional Resources:

• CERT Participant Manual (PM)

• CERT Basic Training Instructor Guide (IG)

• In-Person Training Checklist

• Walkie Talkie Tutorial

Sign up here

How are funds being used?

Your donations are vital to our mission as we amplify our outreach
to serve more residents of the larger Coastside community

• Free disaster preparedness & response training - basic training, ongoing refresher classes, and advanced training in English & Spanish.

• Communications infrastructure to send timely local safety messages, webinars, videos, tutorials, and Chief David Cosgrave's Newsletters.

• Critical practice drills & mutual aid activations with other emergency response agencies, as during the CZU fires & burn scar debris flow evacuations, and CERT volunteers who have continuously staffed HMB COVID testing sites since June 2020.

• Preparedness & response equipment.

• Growth of neighbor helping neighbor networks in every local neighborhood as they work together to strengthen communication and resilience.

Questions or comments? Contact us at coastsidecert@gmail.com