Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to ensure better and more standardized levels of preparedness to respond to CBRN incidents. In so doing, it is hoped that the course will foster competent and confident responders.
This introductory course will enhance responder ability to recognize, survive, and respond to, but not intervene in, a CBRN incident. It focuses on the needs of those who will be the first to arrive on scene or those who may otherwise be the first professionals presented with the results of a terrorist CBRN incident. This includes police, fire, emergency medical workers, emergency call centre operators and dispatchers, first aid providers, poison control, Public Health workers, pharmacists, hospital staff, environment inspectors, and quarantine officers. This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive; many other groups may be involved in this basic line of response and defence. This multi-agency response may face overwhelming tasks, which will dictate that responders embrace duties beyond their normal roles.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the purpose of the training within the CBRN First Responder Training Program
- Describe the purpose of the CBRN Pre-Course
- Recall in general terms the role First Responders have to play in a CBRN event
- Define what constitutes a CBRN terrorist incident
- List reasons terrorists might consider using CBRN agents
- List limitations and disadvantages for the terrorist use of CBRN agents
- Describe likely targets of a terrorist attack
- Describe some of the misconceptions regarding CBRN incidents
- Describe the CBRN response structure
- Describe, in general terms, incident stages
- Describe, in general terms, key response tasks
- Describe the indicators of possible CBRN incident
- Recognize unusual trends which may indicate a CBRN incident
- Describe signs and symptoms of chemical agent exposure and their onset
- Describe signs and symptoms of biological agent(a) exposure and their onset
- Describe signs and symptoms of radiological exposure and their onset;
- Recognize a potential CBRN agent dissemination device(b) and how it may be used by terrorists
- Describe indicators that raise suspicion of a package
- Describe guidelines for dealing with a suspicious package incident
- Describe how to avoid becoming contaminated
- Describe precautions for Secondary Contamination
- Describe the levels of responder Personal Protective Equipment, and when each level is appropriate
- Describe the need for Respiratory Protection
- Describe the risks of operating in Personal Protective Equipment worn at a CBRN incident
- Describe how to safely perform scene size-up
- Describe inner (safety) and outer (security) perimeters and Cold, Warm, and Hot Zones
- Describe how to help/control contaminated victims
- Describe how to establish and execute Emergency Washdown procedures
- Describe the Decontamination process
- Explain triage(a) procedures for contaminated patients(b) and procedures for patient transport
- Explain effective self-aid and directed first-aid for exposure to CBRN materials
- Describe the medical support for responders
- Describe the potential impact of the public’s reactions to a CBRN incident, on emergency services
- Describe the potential impact of a CBRN incident on emergency responders
Target Audience
Sworn Police, Police Services, Government and Other First Responders
Content Provider
Content for this course was provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Notice
Some links within this course are specific to RCMP employees and cannot be accessed by non-RCMP learners. If you are not an RCMP member, please check your own service's policies, procedures, and resources as they relate to this topic
