Attention Students

These courses are now available through NFA Online.

New Command and Control Nursing Home Simulation Now Available on U.S. Fire Administration's Virtual Campus

Release Date: January 20, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced today a new command and control, online simulation for emergency responders involving a scenario at a Nursing Home Facility. The Q424 Nursing Home Fire simulation presents the user with a kitchen fire in a two-story nursing home. Upon successful completion of this online simulation course, the user will be able to recognize the rescue issues related to this type of occupancy - those people who have differing medical problems and those people who are visiting.

"This simulation, with its nursing home command challenges, is designed to help command officials better understand the problems that may occur within nursing facilities during emergencies," said Brown. "Homeland Security involves all people living in all environments in this nation. Seniors residing in extended care facilities will be safer as a result of this and other training opportunities being developed by our team of course designers at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Fire Programs Division and delivered by the National Fire Academy."

Course objectives include safe removal of all occupants and containment and control of fire in the building of origin. National Fire Academy/United States Fire Administration certification will be granted upon successful completion of the course evaluations.

"The need for this type of training is more important than it ever has been as the nation's population ages. The elderly that are in nursing facilities are in unique situations regarding their safe rescue in an emergency and this training will greatly benefit everyone involved," added U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison.

The course can be found on USFA's Virtual Campus under Online Training at http://www.training.fema.gov. The USFA has many other training programs, both online and classroom-based, that are designed to assist emergency responders in becoming better prepared for all types of emergencies. Information on these training programs and other USFA initiatives and publications can be found at www.usfa.dhs.gov.

FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.