When disaster strikes a community, it is often critical that assistance be provided right away. The best first responders are the people who call that area home. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program teaches civilians how to prepare themselves for dangers that might affect their communities. Teams of volunteers are trained in basic skills such as fire safety and prevention, search and rescue, and first aid. After training, these volunteers can begin to provide immediate assistance in the consequence of disasters before professional rescuers arrive.
A CERT team can make a huge difference to a community. During the early stages of a disastrous event, citizens will likely face extreme challenges on their own. Emergency services are usually overwhelmed, and communities may be isolated because of blocked roads. A CERT team can size up the situation in their neighborhood and provide help right away. In 1986, untrained volunteers saved more than 800 lives in the Mexico City earthquake. Unfortunately, at least 100 volunteers also died in the process. To ensure their community was better prepared in events like this, Los Angeles piloted the first CERT program in 1986, and many cities followed their lead.
People of all ages can participate in a CERT program-there is even a teen program for adolescents. Local CERT trainers hold an annual training class and provide subsequent classes throughout the year to consolidate skills.
CERT programs are useful on many different levels. Volunteers are trained to act as eyes and ears, locating trapped victims for uniformed emergency responders who arrive later. They learn to put out small fires, shut off equipment, rescue survivors and provide basic medical treatment. Volunteers also create disaster plans to evacuate families as well as collect and store disaster supplies such as water, food and first-aid kits. Working with professionals, a CERT team can help reduce injuries, loss of life and property damage.
There are now CERT programs throughout the United States, and more than 600,000 people have trained as volunteers. Brazil, New Zealand and Turkey have similar programs. Citizens participate because they believe that everyone in a community has a role in disaster preparedness. By working competently as a team, CERT volunteers protect not only themselves but also the people around them when disasters occur.
【小题1】According to the passage, when do CERT members usually provide assistance?| A．Before those professional rescuers arrive. | B．When uniformed emergency responders arrive. |
| C．During the early stages of a disastrous event. | D．Throughout the process of rescue in a disaster. |
| A．conduct | B．imitate | C．pass | D．discuss |
| A．they think each in the community is important in preventing and fighting against disaster |
| B．they believe everyone in the community has the responsibility in a sudden natural disaster |
| C．they think volunteers in the community can protect themselves and others in a disaster |
| D．they believe they can help victims earlier and more effectively than professional ones |
| A．CERT and professional rescue teams are important |
| B．CERT is a folk but helpful organization in America |
| C．Ordinary people can save lives in a natural disaster |
| D．Volunteers can effectively prevent a natural disaster |
