Monday June 8 – Thursday June 11, 2026 Holyoke 

You see things most people never will. Over time, those calls add up.

This is WRHSAC’s second offering of ASAP Training in Western Massachusetts. During the first session, the class was attended primarily by law enforcement professionals. This round, we strongly encourage participation from firefighters, EMS providers, and dispatchers to ensure this resource is available across all disciplines.

This training prepares first responders to deliver the Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) to their own peers. Participants will learn a structured, evidence-supported process to help colleagues safely process stressful and traumatic calls — without requiring them to talk through the details.

Whether you’re operating on the fireground, providing patient care, or handling calls from the communications center, cumulative stress affects every role. This training gives you a practical tool to bring back to your department.

Research shows participants experience about a 44% reduction in post-traumatic stress symptoms.

What This Training Provides

✔ Certification to deliver ASAP to peers
✔ A structured 8-step protocol and facilitator guide
✔ Skills to lead 45–60 minute sessions
✔ Group and one-on-one delivery options
✔ A tool that can be used shortly after difficult calls

This course strengthens your department’s internal peer support capacity, across fire, EMS, dispatch, and law enforcement.

You Take Care of Everyone Else.

Learn How to Take Care of Each Other.

If you’re part of a peer support team — or want to build one — this training equips you with a proven, field-ready intervention designed specifically for emergency personnel across Western Massachusetts.

The training is free. Click here to apply. You will be notified of acceptance. 

Springfield and Greenfield Sessions

NAEMT’s Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) course, is a comprehensive 16-hour, evidence-based training designed to prepare EMS practitioners, prehospital providers, first responders, and allied personnel to effectively assess and manage traumatic injuries in civilian tactical and high-risk environments.

WRHSAC is conducting two sessions of this 2-day training.

• The first in Springfield on Saturday and Sunday, February 14 & 15, 2026. 9am to 5pm.
• The second in Easthampton on Wednesday and Thursday, March 4 & 5, 2026. 8am to 4pm
• Training Update January 9, 2026 – Both sessions and the waitlist are full. Thank you for your interest in the training. 

This course equips participants with the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to deliver life-saving care during dynamic incidents such as active shooter events, mass casualty situations, and other tactical emergencies.

What You’ll Learn:

• A structured approach to trauma care using the three phases of tactical care — Direct Threat (Hot Zone), Indirect Threat (Warm Zone), and Evacuation (Cold Zone).

• Techniques for hemorrhage control and immediate action drills including tourniquet application.

• Application of the MARCH assessment for rapid evaluation and intervention.

• Airway management, including surgical airway control and needle decompression.

• Strategies for caring for responders and patients in hostile or unstable environments.

• Pediatric trauma care, casualty movement techniques, and real-world patient simulations culminating in a mass-casualty/active shooter event scenario.

Course Benefits:

• Accredited by CAPCE for 16 hours of continuing education.

• Recognized by the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT).

• Endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and aligned with current Co-TECC guidelines.

Whether you are an EMS clinician, firefighter, law enforcement officer, or other emergency responder, this course strengthens your ability to act confidently and competently when every second counts.

8:00am to 3:00pm

WRHSAC, in partnership with Baystate Health, presents
The Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing and Advanced Interrogation

This multi-day training is designed for law enforcement officers, investigators, prosecutors, intelligence personnel, and other multidisciplinary professionals involved in criminal or counterterrorism investigations. It will strengthen your ability to assess credibility, structure effective interviews, and conduct advanced interrogations. The course is essential for fostering interagency cooperation and improving regional coordination, especially in cases involving criminal activity or potential terrorist connections.

Two sessions will be offered: one in October and one in November. See below for specific dates and registration details.

Cost: Free
Registration: Required (link below).

In this course, you will learn how to:

• Interpret verbal and non-verbal behavior to assess the credibility of statements.

• Structure interviews with open-ended and investigative questions to develop a subject’s statement.

• Use behavior-provoking questions during the interview process.

• Persuade suspects to truthfully disclose their involvement in criminal activity.

• Develop effective interrogation strategies and themes.

• Apply alternative questioning techniques to elicit an initial admission of guilt.

• Manage defiant suspects by overcoming objections and addressing fear of consequences.

We are offering two sessions of this training:

• Tuesday, October 28 – Friday, October 31, 2025. Each day 8:00am to 3:00pm. Holyoke, MA.
• Wednesday, November 12 – Friday, November 14, 2025. Each day 8:00am to 5:00pm, Holyoke, MA.

Please complete the form to register. 

Update November 6, 2025 – Both sessions are full. Thank you to all who were able to attend!

8:00am to 2:00pm

Leading Before, During, and After the Crisis Lessons in Leadership from Chief Daniel Linskey

Tuesday, September 23, Chicopee, MA. 9am to 2pm. 

Chief Daniel Linskey, former Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, brings powerful lessons from a career that spanned street patrols, undercover operations, and top command, culminating in leading the response to the Boston Marathon bombing.

Drawing from decades of experience in law enforcement, the U.S. Marine Corps, and elite leadership training programs, Chief Linskey will share practical strategies for:

• Leading teams with clarity and purpose in high-stakes situations

• Preparing your organization for unthinkable challenges

• Making critical decisions under pressure

• Building resilience and unity during and after a crisis

This engaging presentation blends real-life stories with actionable takeaways you can apply immediately in your own role. Expect moments that will make you laugh, reflect, and be inspired, while adding proven tools to your own “File Cabinet of Leadership.”

This seminar is part of the Western Mass Fire Chiefs Association Leadership Training Series, designed to prepare emerging officers for leadership roles.

Coffee, pastries and light lunch will be provided compliments of Western Mass Fire Chiefs Association.

Thank you for your interest in this seminar. Registration is closed. 

Pittsfield and Northampton

Crush, Impalement, and Entrapment Response for First Responders

First responders, prepare to enhance your skills in managing complex rescue scenarios. Join us for an intensive 8-hour training designed to equip you with the tools, techniques, and confidence to handle incidents involving crush injuries, impalements, and entrapments. Whether facing industrial accidents or terrorism-related incidents, this training will teach you how to apply your everyday tools effectively in high-pressure situations.

WRHSAC has previously offered several sessions of this training. In these two sessions, seating is being held for members of the Western Mass Technical Rescue Team, with limited seats available to other first responders throughout western Mass. Register soon as spaces will fill quickly. 

UPDATE January 14, 2026 – Both sessions and the waitlist for both are full. Thank you for your interest in the training.

Training Highlights:

• In-Depth Instruction: Learn the complexities of crush, impalement, and entrapment situations through structured lectures and real-life case studies. The training will focus on scenarios such as machine entrapment, building collapses, vehicle rammings, and more.
• Hands-On Simulations: Gain experience through performance stations that mirror real-world challenges, including fence and rebar impalements, meat grinder entrapments, and large machinery rescues.
• Skill Building & Best Practices: Understand best practices for safety, medical considerations, command structure, and inter-agency collaboration during large-scale incidents.

Key Skills You Will Develop:

• Identifying and assessing crush, impalement, and entrapment situations.
• Utilizing everyday tools to extricate victims safely and efficiently.
• Managing medical concerns specific to crush injuries, impalements, and entrapments.

Why Attend? This training is a unique opportunity to advance your skills with expert instruction and simulated rescue scenarios. Take advantage of this valuable experience to prepare for high-stakes situations and bring these life-saving techniques back to your team.

Multiple Times

De-Escalation and Crisis Communications Training is designed to provide participants practical tools to de-escalate interpersonal encounters. This course has an emphasis on providing de-escalation tools while prioritizing personal safety.

This training is free. Registration is required. OEMS credits (3) are approved. Please complete the form below.

In this course, learners will learn key concepts related to:

• Problem solving and differentiating between types and stages of crisis.
• The four factors of emotional stress.
• Common indicators and systems associated with persons in crises.
• Verbal steps to de-escalate a situation.

The class is fast paced, with a combination of verbal de-escalation exercises and shared instructor experiences. This course is for anyone who needs practical knowledge on how to address stressful encounters while maintain safety awareness. Recommended audience: First responders, professionals in public-facing roles, educators and staff from elementary schools, high schools, and higher education institutions, personnel from human service agencies, and others who regularly engage with the public, particularly in stressful situations.

Objectives:
By the end of the course, learners will be aware of practical and implementable tools to identify crises and steps associated with verbal de-escalation.

The training is free. It is 3-hours long and is offered at the times and locations listed below. Registration is required. Please complete the form below to register.

All registration will close at noon on Monday, March 3, 2025.

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 9am to noon – Agawam – As of Monday 2/24/25 – this session is full. 
• Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 4:30pm to 7:30pm – Pittsfield – As of Friday 2/28/25 this session is full. 
• Thursday, March 6, 2025, 9am to noon – Hadley
• Thursday, March 6, 2025, 2pm to 5pm – Greenfield

Registration is closed. Thank you for your interest in the training.

Multiple Times

Monday June 24 – Registration is closed for this training. Thank you for your interest. 

Hostile threats and attacks are ongoing and can occur in any location. Soft targets such as community events, performances, elections, sporting events, parades, fairs, etc. are particularly vulnerable. These vulnerabilities highlight an urgent need for effective strategies to identify and prevent acts of violence.

Situational Awareness for Safety training  provides knowledge, tools, and techniques to help you maintain situational awareness and stay safe. By the end of the course, participants will know:

● How to systematically observe their environment;

● How to identify people and things that may not look right; and

● How to make more informed decisions and take actions to stay safe

Audience: Fire, EMS, private security, election workers, hospital security, community event staff, sporting event staff, and anyone seeking abilities to identify behavioral indicators of possible threat. This training is not intended for law enforcement. The training is based on skills law enforcement learn in their academies and other required trainings.

The basis for this course is the research and techniques developed as part of the Just Doesn’t Look Right Project (JDLR). The JDLR Project was a United States Department of Defense (DoD) funded research program focused on identifying behavioral indicators of threat.

This training is free. Registration is required. Three sessions will be held throughout western Mass.

• Tuesday, June 25, 12:30pm to 2:30pm, Agawam
• Tuesday, June 25, 5:30pm to 7:30pm, Pittsfield
• Wednesday, June 26 12:30 to 4:30, Hadley (this session provides expanded education and exercise opportunities)
• Wednesday, June 26, 6:00 to 8:00pm, Greenfield

Registration is required. Please complete the following form to register.

Monday June 24 Update – Registration is closed.