FEMA RELEASES NEW DVD TRAINING COURSE – NIMS/ICS SIMULATION EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR MULTI-DISCIPLINE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS 
 
FEMA’s National Preparedness Directorate announces the release of a new DVD training course on NIMS ICS for multi-discipline emergency responders.  The course provides an opportunity for first responders to practice what they have learned in NIMS ICS training through the use of various scenarios; it may also be used as a train-the-trainer course for NIMS ICS instructors.  The course, designed by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute at the University of Maryland, has been available to responders in a classroom setting only.  Realizing that time and personnel constraints were limiting access to the course, FEMA has now produced the course on DVD for broad distribution.  A web-based version of the course will also be available soon.   
 
Course Information:  The course provides an opportunity for participants to practice the principles learned in NIMS ICS training through the use of six (6) scenarios. 
 
Course Objectives:  The course provides participants the opportunity to: 
 
• Practice what they have learned in NIMS ICS training in a safe environment. 

• Work with multiple disciplines.  

• Improve plans and strategies.  

• Teach the course to first responder groups.  


 
Course Materials:  Materials that will be helpful in teaching this course are included on the DVD, including the following: 
 
• Six (6) scenarios, including a marine disaster, an explosion and building collapse, a terrorist attack involving the use of Sarin gas, a police raid involving a fugitive and methamphetamine lab, a chemical explosion at a plastics plant, and a multi-casualty transportation accident. 

• Master Events Scenario List (MESL) that shows the list of events for each scenario.  

• Instructor manual. 

• Photos of the scene from different sides of the incident. 

• Maps that can be projected on a white board for planning purposes. 

• Victim cards that provides suggested steps for those playing victim roles or treating victims. 

• Incident Command Chart. 

• Helpful Hints List for getting the most from the class. 


 
 
 
 
 
Audience:  This course is intended for all disciplines including fire, law enforcement, public health, EMS, emergency management, etc., who have completed NIMS ICS training.  The course may also be of interest to public officials and private sector businesses who may wish to develop a plan for all-hazards incidents. 
 
SPECIAL NOTE:  The course DVDs are available by request through the NIMS Inbox.  For a copy of the course, please send an email to: FEMA-NIMS@dhs.gov.  The course is designed to be flexible, and scenarios can be taught in any order.  The instructor manual, classroom handouts, PowerPoint, and maps to run the scenarios are all available on the DVD in PDF format.  The course does not constitute NIMS certification.  It is intended to provide participants who have completed NIMS ICS training a chance to practice what they have learned using simulated exercises.  Additional information on NIMS ICS training can be found at: www.fema.gov/about/training/index.shtm.