Training

The first class is Using ICS in an Emergency Dispensing Site (EDS) followed by the second course Behavioral Health Disaster Response that can be taught in a single day class or two three hour sessions. It is identified in two parts below.

Part 1: Behavioral Health Disaster Response: Overview & Basics of Psychological First Aid is a 3-hour presentation will provide an explanation of why behavioral health concerns are a major component of emergency events and how behavioral health interventions can both prevent and mitigate certain consequences of disasters and other emergencies.

Target Audiences Mental health providers, medical providers, public health professionals, and MRCs

Learning Objectives After completing this training, participants should be able to:

• Understand how emergency events affect the behavioral health of individuals, families and communities.
• Describe the symptoms and manifestations of disaster stress (the normal response to an abnormal event) and the relevant issues of prevention and intervention.
• Define and formulate Psychological First Aid techniques in Behavioral Health Disaster Response.
• Outline self care techniques to reduce stress and prevent secondary trauma among Behavioral Health Disaster Responders.
• Demonstrate Psychological First Aid through role plays and case studies.

Part 2: Behavioral Health Disaster Response Effective Communication in Emergency Settings is also a 3-hour presentation but it focuses on understanding how to increase the effectiveness of interactions with people who are anxious or overwhelmed by a perceived or real public health threat. The manifestations of fear, anxiety, anger and panic will be portrayed and appropriate responses will be outlined. Staff issues, such as the stress of responding to the public and the importance of coping with one's own fears about a potentially dangerous situation, will be explored. Techniques for effective communication skills, self care, and reducing stress will be demonstrated and compared through didactic information, case scenarios, group discussion and interactive practice sessions.

Target Audiences Mental health providers, medical providers, public health professionals, and MRCs

Learning Objectives After completing this training, participants should be able to:

• Understand the range of reactions to stressful situations.
• Describe the trauma response: fear, anxiety, panic, anger.
• Differentiate methods for tailoring the response to individual needs.
• Demonstrate skills for listening, establishing rapport, showing empathy.
• Identify strategies for reducing staff stress during emergency events.
• Design a self care plan.

Most classes are free to NEMRC members while others charge a small fee for materials and instructors. Many classes are taught online or by DVD and may be completed at your convenience. Naturally, some courses require classroom settings that we will attempt to schedule within a reasonable radius of your home. The classes you are required to complete are determined by your category of membership, training and anticipated contributions. Some classes are available to the general public such as Personal Preparedness.

We don't expect administrative support staff to learn how to administer smallpox vaccine but they may need CPR and first-aid courses. And we don't ask health professionals to take first-aid classes but we insist they learn about the chain of command in a disaster, PPE and fire-ground or disaster scene safety. At the end of the day we want everyone to go home safely having not endangered themselves or anyone else.

• MRC-101 A Primer for MRC & Disaster Volunteers
• CISD, CISM or Disaster Behavioral Health/Psychological First Aid
• PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
• Avian Flu/Pandemic Planning
• Personal Preparedness description & link below
• NIMS-700 description & link below
• NRP - National Response Plan description & link below
• ICS-100 Incident Command System description & link below
• ICS-200 Incident Command System description & link below
• PODS/EDS Points of Distribution/Emergency Distribution Sites description & link below

All instructor taught classes have a refundable classroom seat fee of $25. Classroom seat fees have been institued to address no-show issues and are unique to Instructor taught classes. Classroom seat fees are returned to volunteers who complete the class and are forfeited by no-shows, with tightly limited exception. The fee applies to specific class dates/times and locations and should not be confused with registration or course fees.

FEMA IS-22 - Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
This course has been designed to help you learn how to protect yourself and your family against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual. The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that reflect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect you and your property. Included is information on how to assemble a disaster supplies kit that contains food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity for you and your family to survive. Being prepared reduces fear, anxiety and losses associate with disasters. You will know what to do in the event of a fire; where to seek shelter in a Nor Easter or tornado; when to evacuate and when to shelter in place. Learn about flood proofing and avoiding other dangers. By reading and following the instructions in this guide you and your family can say, Yes, we are ready to meet the demands of the first MRC Core Competency.
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is22.asp

FEMA IS-100.HC - Introduction to ICS for Healthcare/Hospitals
ICS 100, introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) as it applies to the healthcare/hospital environment. This course describes the history, features and principles, and organizational structure of the Incident Command System; it explains the relationship between ICS and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). ICS-100, should be completed by personnel that would have a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management, and/or emergency response during an incident. Personnel designated to fulfill ICS roles (i.e. hospital emergency manager, hospital administration, department heads) should complete ICS-100. Additional participants may include the following hospital and healthcare systems staffs: Physicians, Nursing, Ancillary, Materials/resource management, Security/safety, Laboratory, Radiology, & Inter-facility transport.
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100HC.asp

FEMA IS-200.HC - Applying ICS to Healthcare Organizations
ICS 200.HC is designed to enable healthcare/hospital personnel to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). ICS-200 provides training on and resources for personnel within the ICS and should be completed by (at a minimum) middle management within a hospital or healthcare system. Middle management may refer to physicians, department managers, unit leaders, charge nurses, and any staff (i.e. hospital administration) that would have a role in an emergency operations center (hospital, local, or state). IS-100 is a pre-requisite to the IS-200 course.
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is200HC.asp

FEMA IS-700 - National Incident Management System Introduction
NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents. This course introduces NIMS and takes approximately three hours to complete. It explains the purpose, principles, key components and benefits of NIMS.
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp

FEMA IS-800.A - National Response Plan, An Introduction
The National Response Plan (NRP)describes how the Federal Government will work in concert with State, local, and tribal governments and the private sector to respond to disasters. This course introduces the NRP. It is intended for DHS and other Federal staff responsible for implementing the NRP, and Tribal, State, local and private sector emergency management professionals.
http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is800a.asp

Mass Dispensing Sites - A Primer for Volunteers
This online course is designed for volunteers who may be asked to work in mass dispensing sites during an emergency. The goal of this primer is to provide an overview of the general operations of mass dispensing sites. This program is an initial orientation for individuals who may be asked to work in those sites during an emergency. It provides enough information so that participants can complete a self assessment of how they could contribute to a mass dispensing site operation.
http://cpheo1.sph.umn.edu/massdisp/index.html