9:15 am
Training & Exercise Subcommittee Meeting
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council is offering Medical Preparedness and Response to Bombing Incidents on Thursday and Friday, November 3 & 4, 2016. This two day training is free and open to all emergency response disciplines. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.
We had a great class. Thanks to everyone who attended.
Medical Preparedness and Response to Bombing Incidents Training addresses medical preparedness for and response to blast effects through a combination of lectures, small group activities and tabletop participant exercises. Participants completing this course will gain an enhanced understanding and awareness of issues and considerations relating to bombing incidents. Content areas include identification of targets, explosives characteristics, pre-attack indicators, pre- and post-detonation response, bombing injuries, security, and resource management.
This course is designed for personnel from any professional background who may become part of a community response to a bombing event. This interactive, instructor-facilitated program employs case studies and research-based information designed to enhance medical preparedness for and response to blast effects. Breakout sessions address considerations and concerns specific both to medical responders and emergency planners.
This training represents a cooperative effort between New Mexico Tech’s Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center (NMT/EMRTC) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), a member of The Texas A&M University System. To register complete the form at the bottom of this page.
Topics:
Recommended Audience:
Prerequisites
FEMA / SID Number Students must register and bring a copy of their SID number to class. Register online: cdp.dhs.gov/femasid
CE Credits
This course is approved and accredited for continuing education hours from:
ENA- Emergency Nurses Association
AAFP – America Academy of Family Physicians
OEMS – Office of Emergency Medical Services
Location
University of Massachusetts Campus Center
One Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA
Time: Registration will begin at 8:15 am and light breakfast buffet will be available. Course will begin promptly at 9am and end at 5pm each day.
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council is mourning the loss of Linda Moriarty, our EMS representative, long-time member of the Council. She will be greatly missed. Funeral services for Ms. Moriarty will be held on Tuesday, September 20th. Due to this all WRHSAC meetings schedule for that day have been cancelled. A reschedule date will be announced soon.
Our sincerest condolences to Ms. Moriarty’s family and dearest loved ones.
WRHSAC announces the availability of the Spontaneous and Unaffiliated Volunteer (SUV) Training Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to provide the resources necessary to effectively plan for and safely operate a volunteer management system based on the Incident Command System (ICS). This planning and training series was developed by Berkshire Regional Planning Commission under guidance and direction from WRHSAC and local response partners. Click here to review the toolkit and related materials.
All standing August meetings of the Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council have been cancelled.
This includes: WRHSAC, Training & Exercise subcommittee, Pan Flu Planning Subcommittee, and the Western Massachusetts Regional Interoperability Committee.
Regular meeting schedule resumes in September.
Have a happy summer!
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council will host a Pediatric Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley, MA. This training is an initiative of WRHSAC’s Children in Disasters: Keeping Kids Safe project.
Pediatric Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an evidence informed approach for assisting children and adolescents in the aftermath of disasters and terrorism.
This course will be facilitated by members of PFA International, including Dr. Kermit Crawford, Director of the Center for Multicultural Mental Health, Boston; Dr. Shamaila Khan, Director of Behavioral Health Services, Massachusetts Resiliency Center, Boston; and Dr. Russell T. Jones, from Virginia Tech University, a specialist in working with traumatized children.
This training is appropriate for first responders, all school staff especially teachers & nurses, hospital staff, counselors & therapists, day care providers, faith-based members, and others who interact with children, infants through teenagers, on a regular basis.
Handlers and nationally certified comfort dogs from HOPE: Animal Assisted Crisis Response will be attending. WRHSAC is grateful for their participation.
This training is free. A light breakfast and full lunch will be provided. On-site registration begins at 8am. The training will begin promptly at 9am.
We encourage you to register soon as course size is limited to 100. The course is expected to fill quickly. Registration is open to individuals from western Massachusetts. A waitlist will be started once the course if full.
OEMS credits (7 hours) have been approved for all levels of EMT. Nursing CEUs are pending.
This training is full. Thank you for your interest.
WRHSAC has updated our interactive resource/equipment map. This online map provides quick information regarding WRHSAC purchased equipment, including a brief description of the equipment, equipment location, and contact information to borrow the equipment. You can filter displayed equipment by location or by equipment type.
The interactive map is a great tool to use to become familiar with all the equipment that is available to be borrowed throughout western Massachusetts. The equipment is free to borrow, however some expenses may be incurred to replace used fuel, anything damaged, and anything considered expendable. Full borrowing information can be found in the downloadable resource guide.
The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council (WRHSAC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), hosted an informational symposium on active shooter incidents in March at the Deerfield Academy. More than 600 people from throughout western Massachusetts representing multiple disciplines including, law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, hospitals, schools, colleges and businesses, attended the event.
Participants heard lessons learned from incident commanders involved with previous active shooter incidents. Presenters included:
Connecticut State Police Lt. David DelVecchia and Captain Joe Rios, of the Newtown Connecticut Police Department who together discussed the response, investigation logistics, and post-incident management of the shooting tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
Chief David Billings, Manchester Connecticut Fire Department reviewed the first responder response to the 2010 Hartford Beer Distributor incident offering specific considerations for Fire and EMS at active shooter incidents.
Special FBI Agent Thomas Veivia examined demonstrated shooter behavior patterns and possible warning signs of potential shooters.
Nationally certified Comfort Dogs and their handlers from HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response also attended. The dogs visited with attendees and offered assistance to those who may have been emotionally affected by the day’s discussions.
The symposium was well received by attendees, with many noting how much they garnered from the lessons learned, and their appreciation for the care and respect of incident survivors and victims demonstrated by the presenters.
WRHSAC is reviewing attendee feedback with an eye towards next steps regarding this topic and anticipates conducting more events and trainings to assist the region’s preparedness capabilities to prevent and respond to active shooter incidents.
