Authorized Trainers Return To CDP

Three trainers from the CDP’s Indirect Authorized Training Program (IATP) returned to Anniston to further their skills responding to hazardous incidents. David Hogg, Keith Fehr and Rob Stewart, from the Maricopa Integrated Health System, Phoenix, Ariz., attended the Technical Emergency Response Training for CBRNE Incidents (TERT) course.

Like many CDP courses, the TERT course is multi-disciplinary, and combines a variety of response disciplines such as healthcare, law enforcement and emergency management. TERT encompasses all-hazards training and is part of a handful of courses that allow emergency responders to train in a nerve agent and biological material environment.

According to Fehr, Maricopa Medical Center director of emergency management, the hospital is a level one trauma and burn facility that treats its share of incidents involving hazardous chemicals. He’s attended multiple CDP resident courses but agrees that as an authorized CDP trainer he offers his community and organization an extra edge in preparedness.

“Offering courses at home has helped our community and local hospitals become more resilient with training,” said Fehr. “As a hospital coalition our training is consistent and the equipment is identical from facility to facility allowing us to provide a standard level of care.”

The IATP is designed to efficiently offer courses in a responder’s home jurisdictions. Through qualified Train-the-Trainer (TtT) programs, CDP graduates deliver TtT courses to their home organization and neighboring response units.

“We need our staffs and nearby hospitals to maintain a certain level of awareness,” said Stewart, Maricopa Emergency Department registered nurse. “As we increase the knowledge and awareness of our internal staffs and other close-by organizations, we can take better care of our patients. A part of working in the Emergency Department is witnessing patients who have been exposed to a variety of chemicals and if our staffs do not understand how to approach these kinds of injuries it will create a delay in treatment and possibly cause cross contamination in the facility.”

These three healthcare professionals were recently recognized as Silver Level trainers. Between the three, they’ve taught 53 classes that includes 120 emergency responders. The CDP recognizes three levels of indirect trainers for each fiscal year (Oct. 1- Sept. 30). The Bronze level is recognized for instructing 100 or more students or 10 classes, Silver level is 200 or more students or 15 classes, and Gold level is 300 or more students or 20 classes. This recognition is based on high performance and a dedication to preparedness and response.

“I’ve always been interested in preparedness,” said David Hogg, registered nurse for Interventional Radiology. “Training is important for survivability of the patient, hospital staff and facility. We have to protect each other to keep the facility open and receiving patients—training allows that. More people need to take advantage of the IATP. It saves money for the organization and local jurisdiction.”

The IATP officially identifies members of the CDP Indirect Authorized Trainer community who acquire special training skills of direct benefit to the CDP mission and whose efforts enhance the local response capability through locally delivered training. Once qualified by the CDP, and with approval of their State Administrative Agency (SAA), these trainers can deliver training in their jurisdictions and receive ongoing administrative support and certification from the CDP. Qualified indirect trainers may request course materials through the CDP at no cost to their agency or jurisdiction. End-of-course exams and other testing materials are returned to the CDP for scoring and then graduation certificates are forwarded to the indirect trainer who then presents them to the students.

For more information about indirect training programs, email indirecttraining@cdpemail.dhs.gov or call 866-291-0698.