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.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada's Canadian Emergency Management College (CEMC) is now leading the delivery of a comprehensive, four level CBRN first responder training program. Several partners are collaborating with CEMC on this program, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Defense Research and Development Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. 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.

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:

1. Awareness
2. Basic
3. Intermediate
4. Advanced

The first level, Awareness, is offered in an e-learning format and 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 (e.g. public transit operators, government staff, building operators and mail room staff).

Learning Objectives

To provide participants with information on how to recognize potential CBRN threats, protect themselves and alert those who need to respond.

Pre-requisites

There are no pre-requisites to this course.

Course Details

Third Party Provider: CEMC
Price: There is no fee for the Awareness level course
Languages: English/French