About CERT91

CERT91 is a specialized unit within Spartanburg County Emergency Management that partners directly with Spartanburg County 911 to respond to non-emergency service calls. Our mission is to support the community by handling lower-priority medical or assistance calls—freeing up frontline EMS units for urgent emergencies.

In 2024 alone, CERT91 responded to 1,434 requests for service, including:

• Lift assists

• Welfare checks

• Assist-a-citizen calls

• Non-emergency public service requests

How To Get Involved

CERT91 is a volunteer-driven program made up of individuals with varying levels of training, including EMRs, EMTs, Paramedics, and dedicated community members with a strong interest in healthcare and emergency services.
 

Volunteers respond in teams of at least two to select non-emergency calls, such as welfare checks and lift assists. For example, you may be dispatched to check on someone who hasn’t been answering their phone or to help a person who has fallen but reports no injuries. In these cases, a brief triage assessment is conducted before providing assistance.
 

Each team includes:

• An “A” responder who is at least EMR-certified and has the necessary response experience.

• A “B” responder who has completed required training in areas like BLS CPR, First Aid, lifting techniques, bloodborne pathogen safety, communications, HIPAA, and standard operating guidelines (SOGs).

• New volunteers without those qualifications may serve as a “C” responder, shadowing the team and assisting while receiving hands-on training during downtime at the CERT91 office. Once bloodborne pathogen safety, communications, HIPAA, and standard operating guidelines (SOGs) are completed and reviewed, "C" responders may join calls. 

We provide and cover the cost of all required training, including BLS/CPR and First Aid, to help you get started. A CERT91 vehicle is assigned for official responses, and documentation is currently transitioning to a digital format.
 

Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of one 4-hour shift per month, with flexible scheduling to accommodate your availability.