All Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR) Course

The All Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR) course teaches students how to respond to the many types of disaster scenarios they may encounter, including natural disasters and infrastructure failings, fires and radiological events, pandemics, active shooter incidents, and other mass casualty events.

AHDR educates participants on how to analyze potential threats in their area, assess available resources, and create a response plan that will save lives.

Features of a medical response plan covered in the course include:

• Communicating effectively during disasters.

• Mutual aid and interoperability.

• Managing resources such as supplies, medications, and equipment.

• Triage and transportation strategies and challenges.

• Patient tracking and evacuation.

• At the start of the course, participants conduct a “hazards vulnerability analysis” to assess features of their environment, both natural and man-made, that pose a risk, along with assessing the needs of vulnerable populations, such as assisted-living residents or hospital patients, that need special consideration during such an event.

Who should attend?
The AHDR Course is aimed at those who are likely to be involved in a mass casualty situation. Some of the key individuals and groups commonly involved are:

First Responders:

• Police: law enforcement personnel that are responsible for maintaining order, securing the scene, and providing initial assistance to victims.

• Firefighters: firefighters that may be involved in extinguishing fires, providing rescue services, and managing hazardous materials incidents.

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS): Paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) that provide medical care to the injured, triage patients, and transport them to hospitals.

Healthcare Providers:

• Doctors and nurses: medical professionals in hospitals and emergency departments treating patients with severe injuries and medical conditions.

• Surgeons: in cases of severe injuries, the need to perform surgeries.

• Hospital staff: administration and support staff to help manage the influx of patients and ensure resources are allocated efficiently.

Emergency Management Personnel:

• Emergency managers are individuals who coordinate overall response efforts, manage resources, and make critical decisions during mass casualty events.

• Public information officers are responsible for communicating important information to the public and media.

Dispatchers:

• 999 operators and emergency communication centers that play a crucial role in coordinating responses and deploying resources.

Search and Rescue Teams:

• Specialized teams skilled in locating and extricating individuals from disaster areas, including urban search and rescue teams.

Volunteers:

• Trained and untrained volunteers from humanitarian organizations, assisting with various aspects of the response, including shelter management, first aid, and emotional support.

Transportation Personnel:

• Drivers and transportation companies that may be involved in evacuating and transporting patients to hospitals.

Government officials:

• Local, state, and federal government officials that provide support and resources, declare emergencies, and activate response plans.

Social services:

• Agencies that provide support for long-term recovery and assistance to individuals affected by the event.

Mental health professionals:

• Psychologists, counselors, and social workers may be needed to provide emotional and psychological support to survivors and responders.

Hazardous Materials Teams:

• Specialized teams that are responsible for containment and decontamination.

Military Personnel:

• Officers that may be called upon to provide logistical support, medical care, or disaster response capabilities.