An inaugural class of Suffolk students, faculty and staff will begin Community Emergency Response Team training Oct. 21, in an effort to build essential skills in disaster preparedness and earn a nationally-recognized certification from the Federal Emergency Management Administration, or FEMA.
According to FEMA, CERT training aims to educate participants on basic disaster preparedness and response strategies, empowering ordinary citizens to take action in the crucial period before professional first responders arrive at the scene of an emergency.
Suffolk’s first on-campus CERT training course will kick off at 1 Beacon St., with sessions every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 5:30-8:00 p.m. until the final disaster exercise and graduation Nov. 12.
Sessions will include classroom instruction with elements of live, hands-on response demonstrations to prepare participants for a wide variety of natural disasters, active threats, medical emergencies and building evacuation and crowd management protocols.
This free course will be hosted by Christian Cunnie, director of the Suffolk University Office of Emergency Management, with guest appearances from the Boston division of the FBI, Boston Fire and the Suffolk University Police Department.
Emergency Management is an area of professional expertise of increased importance since the pandemic shocked existing plans at the workplace, local and national levels.
“A helpful way to think of Emergency Management is as the conductor of an orchestra,” said Cunnie. “We build the systems that bring all the key players together during a crisis, including public safety, student affairs, facilities, other University departments and outside groups, and make sure they work in sync. The stronger that coordination is, the faster our community can recover and return to normal.”
CERT training encourages participants to become key players in the initial coordination process of an emergency. In the final disaster exercise Nov. 12, trainees will put all of their learned skills to work and use real gear to respond to drill scenarios of a mock car accident, a structural collapse and a medical mass casualty.
In a campus-wide email about the CERT course, sent Sept. 29, the Office of Emergency Management attached a video of a CERT drill at UMass Lowell to depict the realistic scenarios that Suffolk University participants will navigate during the final session.
Though the CERT course centers on theoretical and tactical education on disaster response, the biggest takeaway for participants, Cunnie said, is a heightened sense of confidence.
“In a crisis, people often experience that instinct to fight, flight or freeze. CERT helps participants learn how to process what is happening and focus on actions that make a difference,” said Cunnie. “Instead of feeling helpless, they gain tangible skills that allow them to take care of a loved one, assist a neighbor or support their community in those critical first moments before first responders arrive.”
This course challenges participants to act logically and efficiently and take leadership in unpredictable, even life-threatening, scenarios. The nationally recognized certification awarded to trainees is a versatile resume builder that can enhance any professional or academic discipline.
“It shows initiative, leadership and practical experience. Even for those pursuing other careers, the teamwork and problem-solving skills developed in this program are valuable in any field,” said Cunnie.
For those passionate about public service and security, CERT training can open doors to new opportunities in the field of emergency management and provide an adaptable edge in leadership skills and the ability to work under pressure when it matters most.
This fall marks the first CERT session hosted on campus by Suffolk University. With over 34 registered participants in the first five days of open registration, the Office of Emergency Management is hopeful that additional sessions can be offered each semester.
To complete the CERT course and receive certification, participants must attend all sessions.
