CBRN First Responder Training Program
The Canadian Emergency Management College leads the delivery of the CBRN First Responder Training Program in cooperation with several federal partners: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Defence Research and Development Canada, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The program was developed in consultation with federal and first-responder experts and is being delivered by the CEMC-led partnership in cooperation with provincial, territorial and other partners across the country.
- CBRN program background;
- Awareness course:
For anyone who may need to recognize a CBRN incident, protect themselves, and relay information to emergency response personnel (e.g. public transit operators, building operators and mail room staff). Available via e-learning.
- Basic level course:
For first responders who may be in a position to recognize and respond to a CBRN incident, but not intervene in the contaminated area (e.g. 911 operators, police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel first arriving on scene). To complement the classroom-based delivery of this course, it is also available via e-learning.
- Intermediate level course:
For specialized responders who intervene to mitigate and neutralize an incident and take direct action to save lives (e.g. hazardous materials teams, explosives technicians, forensics identification specialists and emergency medical services personnel).
- Advanced level course:
For specialized responders who have successfully completed the Intermediate level course.
- Course dates;
Background
The Government of Canada held consultations in the autumn of 2001 on options to strengthen national response capability for CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) terrorist incidents. These consultations highlighted the urgent need for CBRN training for first responders, particularly the need for standardization and interoperability.
Given the high priority of this issue, the Government of Canada immediately committed funds for the design and delivery of a training program for first responders. As a result, PS's Canadian Emergency Management College led the development and is now leading the delivery of a comprehensive CBRN first responder training program. Several partners are collaborating with the College on this program, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Defence Research and Development Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
The CBRN First Responder Training Program is designed to:
- provide standardized course content across the country, allowing for interoperability between agencies and jurisdictions.
- build on existing, credible CBRN resource material, given that the body of knowledge surrounding this subject is continually expanding and changing in terms of equipment and response protocols.
- maximize training coverage by using distance-based tools, and provide sustained support to address ongoing training needs.
- develop the competence and confidence of first responders who may be faced with responding to a CBRN attack.
- increase the knowledge of those outside of the first responder population who need to know how to recognize a CBRN attack.
The CBRN First Responder Training Program has four levels: Awareness, Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
Awareness
This course provides awareness training for a wide range of participants who may encounter a CBRN situation within the course of their duties, but are not responsible for direct response.
- Participants
- Recommended for anyone who may be in a position to recognize a CBRN incident, but would not be in a position to respond (e.g. public transit operators, government staff, building operators and mail room staff)
- Course objective
- To provide participants with information on how to recognize potential CBRN threats, protect themselves and alert those who need to respond
- Prerequisites
- None
- Format
- E-learning, self-study, Internet-based
- Course availability
- Available online
For more information about registering for CEMC courses, please see Enrolment or contact the Registrar.
Basic level
This course provides basic level training for first response personnel who may need to recognize and respond to a CBRN situation, but who are not responsible for intervention.
- Participants
- Recommended for first responders who may be in a position to recognize and respond to a CBRN incident, but would not be the ones to intervene (e.g. 911 operators, police, firefighters and emergency medical services personnel first arriving on scene)
- Course objective
- To provide personnel with training on how to recognize potential CBRN threats and incidents, protect themselves and respond accordingly (i.e. first to arrive on scene, assess the situation and call in specialists as required)
- Prerequisites
- Standard service training
- Format
- One-day classroom-based course delivered at the local/regional level. For those who are not able to participate in the classroom-based version, this course is also available online.
- Course availability
- For information about the availability of the classroom-based course, please contact your provincial/territorial EMO. The Internet-based course is self-directed.
For more information about registering for CEMC courses, please see Enrolment or contact the Registrar.
Instructor training
CEMC has also developed a "train the trainer" format for the Basic course which is offered in the classroom to instructor trainees from the three responder services: fire, police and emergency medical services. Instructor Training is a two-day course after which instructor trainees can deliver the one-day CBRN Basic course in their jurisdictions. All resources needed to offer the course (instructor guides, participant manuals and instructional aids) are provided by CEMC to be delivered to the identified course site. The intent of the Instructor Training course is to enable municipalities, provinces and territories to deliver CBRN training to first responders regionally. Please note that full Basic content is covered in this format of training.
Intermediate level
This course is for personnel who may be required to intervene in a CBRN situation. It includes topics such as CBRN incident recognition, protective equipment, detection instruments, emergency washdown, decontamination, medical response, and overall site coordination and management.
Training takes place over eight and a half days, and considers the response requirements of an actual CBRN incident.
- Participants
- Recommended for specialized responders who intervene to mitigate and neutralize an incident and take direct action to save lives
- Course objective
- To provide specialized responders with the knowledge and skills to intervene in, mitigate and neutralize a CBRN incident, and take direct action to save lives
- Prerequisites
-
Participants must be qualified in their specific fields:
- Hazardous materials technician: NFPA 472 hazmat technician (or equivalent) skill set
- Forensic identification specialist/technician: three years forensic identification experience and actively employed as a forensic specialist/technician
- Explosives technicians: successful completion of the Canadian Police College's Police Explosives Technicians course and a current validated explosives technician
- EMS technicians: Level III Paramedic or Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP) – skills of intravenous (IV) cannulation, fluid resuscitation, IV and intramuscular (IM) medication administration as well as advanced airway skills and maintenance (such as Combitube or oral/nasal endotracheal intubation)
On day one of the course, participants must pass an exam on the Basic level pre-course reading material in order to participate. Alternatively, participants may present their CBRN Basic level course certificate achieved via the e-learning course. Enrolment is coordinated through provincial and territorial emergency management organizations.
- Format
- 8.5 day course including classroom training, field exercises and scenarios. Separate "break-out" modules are also part of the training to address the specific needs of each responder group.
- Location
- Canadian Emergency Management College and other training locations in the National Capital Region
- Course availability
-
For more information about registering for CEMC courses, please see Enrolment or contact the Registrar.
Advanced level
This course extends the training received in the CBRN Intermediate level course, going further into advanced hands-on preparation for intervening during a CBRN incident.
Training takes place over five days, and considers the response requirements of an actual CBRN incident.
- Participants
- Recommended for personnel who are critical to resolving a CBRN incident (hazardous materials technicians, forensic identification specialists/technicians, emergency medical services technicians)
- Course objective
- To provide specialized responders with extensive, hands-on advanced training to facilitate their intervention during a CBRN incident
- Prerequisites
- CBRN Intermediate level course. Enrolment is coordinated through provincial and territorial emergency management organizations.
- Format
- Five-day course, including field/scenario based training using live agents, and classroom sessions where appropriate
- Location
- Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield, Alberta
- Course availability
-
For more information about registering for CEMC courses, please see Enrolment or contact the Registrar.