All Hazards Disaster Response

The All Hazards Disaster Response (AHDR) course employs a systems-based approach to disaster preparedness and response, with a focus on caring for ill and injured patients during a mass-casualty incident or disaster. The course teaches students how to respond to the many types of disaster scenarios they may encounter, including natural disasters, infrastructure failings, fires and radiological events, pandemics, active shooter incidents, and other mass casualty events. AHDR educates participants on the critical actions required to support patient and practitioner safety during disaster response.

Topics covered in the course include:

• Incident Command System
• Communicating effectively during disasters
• Mutual aid and interoperability
• PPE and infectious diseases
• Managing resources such as supplies, medications, and equipment
• Incendiary devices and blast injuries
• Triage and transport strategies and challenges
• Patient tracking and evacuation

The second edition of AHDR includes a robust library of disaster simulations to provide learners with the opportunity to apply scene size-up, patient triage, evacuation, and transport decisions in a low-stakes, structured environment. Course activities reinforce key concepts of disaster response.

AHDR is appropriate for all levels of EMS practitioners and other medical professionals providing prehospital care. This course is offered in the classroom and provides 8 hours of CAPCE credit and NREMT recognition.