2011 CERT Invitational

The Burbank Fire Department is hosting the 2011 CERT Invitational. In this second annual event, ten teams will compete in high-intensity skills challenges based solely on the Citizen Corps CERT curricula. Awards will be given for the highest scoring team at each station as well as awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall finishes.

The greater purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the CERT mission and the effect it can have on a community; before, during and after a disaster. With the preparedness skills CERT teaches, a CERT graduate is a more resilient, self-reliant citizen. In the wake of a disaster, CERT teams become first responders when professional emergency services are overwhelmed. CERT can be the critical difference between life and death.

Join us this September 24th as we gather in the spirit of healthy competition to remember the heroes and follow their inspiration.

Competition Date: Saturday, September 24, 2011 Competition Schedule: Check-in: 7:30 - 8:30 AM Briefing: 8:30 AM Competition: 9:00 AM Awards Ceremony: 5:30 PM Conclusion at 6:00 PM

Teams will compete at the following stations: Fire Suppression Teams will be given a basic knowledge written exam related to this station. Upon completion, two team members will be provided fire extinguishers and working together using the buddy system will need to demonstrate proper procedures and techniques for using a fire extinguisher to suppress a fire in a live-fire training pit. Victim Triage and Casualty Collection Area Teams will work together to maximize efficiency and appropriately assess the situation, triage victims, set-up a casualty collection area and move victims from the scene to the casualty collection area. Search and Rescue Operations Teams will work together to maximize efficiency and appropriately assess the situation and perform a search in a four story drill tower with multiple rooms. Cribbing and victim extrication Teams will work together to maximize efficiency and appropriately assess the situation. Teams will then perform a cribbing operation to extricate a viable victim from beneath a heavy object. Disaster Medical Operations Teams will work together to maximize efficiency and appropriately assess the situation. Teams will face multiple victims at a casualty collection area where they must re assess the victim and provide appropriate "disaster medical" treatment using proper technique. Comprehensive Written Exam A written exam will test basic knowledge of all CERT modules. Team members will work as individuals to take a multiple choice written exam covering material from Units 1 through 8 of the Citizen Corps national CERT manual. Materials can be found at the Citizen Corps CERT Training Materials site.

Teams will be required to bring their own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as appropriate CERT backpack or utility vest with minimum CERT deployment items. All operational materials needed to complete each challenge will be provided at the station. Teams may bring additional items to assist them as long as the items are consistent with those used by CERT teams and must able to be carried in their CERT backpack or utility vest. Two-way handheld radios will be provided for team use at stations that may need distant communication; teams may bring their own two-way handheld radios if so desired.

PPE required: Helmet ANSI approved safety goggles Work gloves

Minimum CERT items for backpack or utility vest: Dust mask Medical exam gloves Permanent marker Lumber crayon Notepad and pen/pencil Whistle Flashlight Light stick Personal water bottle, canteen or bladder device

There will be awards for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall challenge winners as well as awards for individual stations for highest station score.

Team size: 6-10 personnel. Teams are not required to submit a roster until check-in. Fans support is encouraged for this competition, but additional support crew is disallowed: we are simulating a deployed, self-contained CERT team. Jurisdictions, Agencies or companies that wish to field more than one team may state their intention, though initial registration is limited to a single team. Secondary teams from a single source will be waitlisted until open registration has closed. If there are still available slots after the registration deadline, those slots will be made available and notifications sent to those jurisdictions.

Registration is conducted in stages and is handled online through the Eventbrite service: 2011invitational.eventbrite.com

The entry fee is $50.00 for CERT teams from a city or county agency; $100.00 for business/industry ERT teams. The competition is limited to the first ten (10). Registration will remain open until all ten spots are filled and entry fees are collected. Teams interested in registering after the initial ten slots are filled will be waitlisted in the order they are received. All teams will be contacted to confirm their registration spot or waitlisted status.

Teams may pay by credit card or check. There is a nominal service fee charged by the registration website for credit card transactions. If your organization chooses to pay by check, when registering please click "show other payment options" under the "order now" button and a new button "pay offline" will appear. Click this option. Teams that withdraw before July 31, 2011 will be given a refund.

Registered teams will receive a challenge package that will include directions to the venue, parking instructions, challenge competition rules, scoring guidelines, detailed descriptions of each event and additional details for your team.

Check back to this site often for updates and more details as to which teams have registered and other competition-related information. Any questions may be directed to the 2011 Invitational Coordinator.

• Q: I'd like to sponsor the event. How do I go about doing that?
• A: Sponsorship is divided into three tiers. Contact the 2011 Invitational Coordinator for more details.

• Q: What will the team entry fee be used for?
• A: For the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards.

• Q: I thought I read this was happening a week earlier, on September 17th?
• A: You did. There was a facility conflict with Los Angeles County and it was easier for us to shift our date than for them to shift theirs. September 24th, however, has been set in stone...

• Q: Will food be available?
• A: Teams will be provided lunch during the competition at no charge via lunch tickets. We are currently working with local vendors to have additional food available for purchase at the location throughout the day.

• Q: How many lunch tickets will my team receive?
• A: Each Team will receive 10 lunch tickets.

• Q: I have special dietary restrictions. Who should I notify?
• A: Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate special dietary needs at this venue. Our recommendation is to bring an appropriate meal and utilize the Training Center kitchen for any preparation.

• Q: Will there be water available?
• A: Yes, through event sponsorship we will have bottled water on hand for the teams.

• Q: Do I have to bring my CERT backpack or utility vest?
• A: Yes, throughout the day at various challenges you will be scored on having all appropriate PPE and minimum basic equipment.

• Q: Does my team have to be between 6 and 10 members?
• A: Yes. Each team must have a minimum of 6 individual team members, 8 members optimally, and 10 is the maximum. Most of the stations are designed for 6 members to work together as a team, allowing teams to hold remaining members in reserve for other events, more than 10 team members is overkill and your team members will most likely get bored.

• Q: Can I have less than 6 team members?
• A: No. the majority of the stations are designed for 6 team members to engage as one cohesive unit.

• Q: Can I have more than 10 team members?
• A: No. More than 10 members is overkill for a single team. Considering the challenge stations are optimized for 6 people, your additional team members would likely get bored. If you have a large pool of potential team members, consider forming two or more teams.

• Q: Will there be any meetings prior to event?
• A: Yes. There will a Team Captain's meeting prior to the competition. This meeting is not mandatory but is recommended. Please limit attendance at this meeting to one or two representatives. Information regarding this meeting will be sent to the email address provided during registration.

• Q: Will we be required to sign a release?
• A: Yes. All team members will be required to sign liability release the day of the event at check-in. Any members that do not complete the release will be unable to participate in the competition.