Emergency Response Team Course

Lesson 1 • Types and Classification of Emergencies

Categorizes emergencies by type, scale, and complexity. Enables responders to select appropriate protocols from the outset.

Lesson 2 • Incident Command System Overview

Introduces the Incident Command System (ICS) structure and its functional sections. Provides the operational backbone used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Personal Protective Equipment Fundamentals

Identifies PPE categories, selection criteria, and donning/doffing procedures. Ensures responder safety before any field deployment.

Lesson 4 • Legal and Ethical Framework

Covers duty of care, responder liability, and ethical decision-making under pressure. Grounds all response actions in professional and legal standards.

Lesson 1 • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Covers systematic hazard identification and risk-scoring methods. Enables prioritization of mitigation actions before responder entry.

Lesson 2 • Information Gathering and Reporting

Trains structured information collection and concise reporting to command. Ensures accurate data flows up the chain of command.

Lesson 3 • Situational Awareness Models

Introduces perception, comprehension, and projection models of situational awareness. Reduces cognitive errors during high-stress operations.

Lesson 1 • Multi-Agency Coordination

Addresses interoperability challenges, liaison roles, and joint information management. Enables seamless cooperation with external agencies at complex incidents.

Lesson 2 • Structured Reporting Formats

Teaches SMEAC, SITREP, and METHANE reporting formats for consistent information transfer. Reduces ambiguity and speeds command decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Radio Operations and Protocols

Covers radio types, channel management, and standard transmission procedures. Establishes reliable voice communication as the backbone of field operations.

Lesson 1 • Shock Recognition and Management

Identifies shock types, early signs, and field stabilization measures. Prevents deterioration while awaiting advanced medical support.

Lesson 2 • Airway Management and Breathing Support

Covers manual airway techniques, positioning, and basic adjuncts. Directly addresses the leading cause of preventable death at emergency scenes.

Lesson 3 • Hemorrhage Control Techniques

Teaches tourniquet application, wound packing, and pressure dressings. Addresses the second leading cause of preventable trauma death.

Lesson 4 • CPR and Automated Defibrillation

Provides hands-on CPR technique and AED operation for adult and pediatric patients. Integrates cardiac arrest response into the broader emergency medical skill set.

Lesson 1 • Search Strategy and Pattern Selection

Covers grid, spiral, and sector search patterns and their situational applications. Ensures complete area coverage without duplicating effort.

Lesson 2 • Victim Extraction and Movement

Covers manual carries, improvised stretchers, and spinal precaution techniques. Ensures safe victim movement without worsening injuries.

Lesson 3 • Structural Collapse Awareness

Identifies collapse types, void spaces, and secondary collapse indicators. Protects rescuers from structural hazards during victim extraction.

Lesson 4 • Water and Confined Space Rescue Awareness

Introduces hazards and entry criteria for water and confined space rescues. Sets boundaries for non-specialist responders and triggers specialist activation.

Lesson 1 • Isolation, Denial of Entry, and Notification

Covers perimeter establishment, public protection actions, and agency notification. Limits exposure and activates the appropriate specialist response.

Lesson 2 • Decontamination Principles and Procedures

Introduces gross, secondary, and technical decontamination methods. Prevents cross-contamination of responders, victims, and equipment.

Lesson 3 • Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Awareness

Provides recognition indicators for CBRN agents and initial protective actions. Prepares responders to operate safely at the perimeter of CBRN events.

Lesson 1 • Building Evacuation and Occupant Safety

Teaches evacuation route planning, assembly point management, and occupant accountability. Integrates fire response with life-safety priorities.

Lesson 2 • Fire Science and Behavior

Explains the fire tetrahedron, combustion stages, and fire spread mechanisms. Provides the scientific basis for all suppression and evacuation decisions.

Lesson 3 • Fire Service Coordination and Support

Defines the emergency response team's role when professional fire services arrive. Prevents freelancing and ensures seamless handoff of command.

Lesson 1 • Responder Safety and Accountability

Covers personnel accountability systems, emergency distress signals, and rapid intervention. Ensures no responder is lost or unaccounted for during operations.

Lesson 2 • Integrated Incident Action Planning

Teaches the incident action plan (IAP) cycle, objectives setting, and resource tracking. Unifies all response functions under a single operational plan.

Lesson 3 • Team Readiness and Continuous Improvement

Establishes training cycles, competency assessments, and equipment readiness checks. Sustains team capability between activations.

Lesson 4 • Multi-Hazard Scenario Management

Applies all prior skills to simultaneous, evolving multi-hazard incidents. Tests decision-making, prioritization, and adaptive leadership under pressure.