This course will provide first responders with the knowledge and skills to: Understand what hazardous substances are and the risk associated with them in an incident; Recognize the presence of hazardous substances in an emergency; Understand the role of the emergency responder at the awareness level, including site security and control; Have understanding of the U.S. Department of Transportation Emergency Guidebook; Realize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate notifications to the community.

This course offers the individual skills necessary to direct and coordinate all aspects of a hazardous materials incident. This includes: Knowledge of and the ability to implement the incident management system; Knowledge of how to implement the emergency response plan, state and federal regional response plans; Knowledge and understanding of the importance of decontamination procedures; Knowledge and understanding of hazards associated with employees working in chemical protective clothing; Analyzing a hazardous materials incident, setting objectives, identifying potential action options, evaluation of the planned response, documentation, and final termination requirements.

The Chemistry of Hazardous Materials course focuses on the language of chemistry and the basic chemical, physical and toxicological properties of hazardous materials, which can assist the hazardous response team in the decision-making process. This course consists of lecture and laboratory demonstrations which are designed to illustrate both theoretical and practical applications of hazardous materials chemistry. This course is designed to develop a basic hazardous materials chemistry background for hazardous materials personnel. This course is taught by National Fire Academy Instructors, and went through revision in 1994 to meet current standards. Students who complete this course will receive National Fire Academy certificates.

Applicable Certification Level: Hazardous Materials Chemistry

Prerequisite: None

The Hazardous Materials First Responder/Operations Level course provides to those personnel, who are or will be operating as a member of a fire department, the basic skills needed to evaluate and work defensively at an incident involving the release of hazardous materials.

The objectives of the course are to teach participants:

Knowledge of basic hazard and risk-assessment techniques; Knowledge of selecting and using proper personal protective equipment provided to the first responder operational level; Knowledge of performing basic control, containment and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available; Understanding of the relevant standard operating guidelines and termination procedures.

Applicable Certification Level: Firefighter III & Hazardous Materials First Responder/Operations Level

Prerequisite: Hazardous Materials Awareness & Firefighter II

The Hazardous Materials Technician course provides those personnel who are or will be operating as a member of a hazardous materials response team with the basic skills needed to evaluate and mitigate an incident involving the release of hazardous materials.

The objectives of the course are to teach participants:

Knowledge of implementation of the Emergency Response Plan; Knowledge of the classification, identification, and verification of known and unknown material by using field-survey instruments and equipment; Being able to function within an assigned role in the Incident Management System; Knowledge of selecting and using the proper specialized chemical personal protective equipment provided to the hazardous material technician; Understanding hazard and risk-assessment techniques; Being able to perform advance control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available with the unit; Understanding and implementing decontamination procedures; Understanding basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior; Being able to perform specialized control, containment, and/or confinement operations within the capabilities of the resources and personal protective equipment available; Understanding chemical, radiological, and toxicological terminology and behavior; Having the ability to develop a site safety and control plan; Understanding classification, identification, and verification of known and unknown materials by using advanced survey instruments and equipment.

Applicable Certification Level: Hazardous Materials Technician I

Prerequisite: Hazardous Materials First Responder/ Operations Level

This class contains the advance skills necessary to make command decisions at an incident involving the release of hazardous materials. Responders will be learning from leaders of the field of emergency response. They will share techniques and skills used to run any type of hazardous incident. As part of the class assignment, participants will develop standard operating guidelines, perform a hazard analysis for a fixed site facility, and operate as command staff for a simulated incident using the material they developed during the week long class.

Applicable Certification Level: None

Prerequisites: Hazardous Materials Technician

The primary target audience for this course includes three groups of people: Fire Service Personnel, EMS Responders, and Haz-Mat Responders. In addition, this course is designed to benefit: Law Enforcement Personnel, Emergency Communications Personnel, Public Works Management, Public Health Workers, Armed Forces, Reserves, and National Guard, Disaster Response Agencies.

This program is designed to help responders to recognize and understand acts of Terrorism, both domestic and international. It will provide responders with knowledge on implementing self-protective measures, scene security and tactical considerations when dealing with terrorism. Explosives, chemical, radiological and etiological types of harm shall be discussed. This class will also give the responders an overview of the incident command structure and their role within a mass casualty disaster involving a multi-jurisdictional command system.

Applicable Certification Level: None

Prerequisites: None

The primary target audience for this course includes three groups of people: Fire Service Personnel, EMS Responders, and Haz-Mat Responders. In addition, this course is designed to benefit: Law Enforcement Personnel, Emergency Communications Personnel, Public Works Management, Public Health Workers, Armed Forces, Reserves, and National Guard, Disaster Response Agencies.

This training is designed for Technician level responders. It will be a three-day symposium on topics dealing with Terrorism, both domestic and international. This training will involve both classroom and hands-on activities designed to prepare Technicians to respond to Terrorism Emergencies. Some of the events planned are: Tour of Nuclear Reactor - Target exposures, Demonstrations on incendiary devices, bombs and clandestine drug laboratories, Demonstration on proper tactics and strategy of dealing with chemical, etiological and radiological emergencies; Monitoring and Chemical Protective Clothing; Table-top exercises on incidents involving mass casualty and acts of terrorism; Mass casualty evacuation and decontamination demonstration.

Applicable Certification Level: None

Prerequisites: None