Training Exercises and Drills

All Hands can develop custom training programs to meet your needs. The following listing describes some of our current training course offerings.

Emergency Management
An Introduction to Community Emergency Management
Emergency Operation Centers - Training, Exercises and Drills

Incident Command System (ICS) Training Courses
Introduction to Incident Command System
Basic (Introduction) Incident Command System
Basic 3 to 5-Day Course Incident Command System

Disaster First Aid and Leadership
Course Description
Evacuation Coordination

Leadership and Team Building Courses
Team Building Among the Trees®
Leadership and Team Building

Team Engineering
High-Performance Principles for Crisis and Emergency Response Teams
Team Building - Human Factors

Navigating Among the Trees®
Basic Half-Day Workshop
Basic GPS Half-Day Workshop
Other General Courses and Workshops
Other Special Courses and Workshops

First Aid and Medical Programs
First Aid, EMS, & Survival Among the Trees®
Basic Wilderness First Aid
Advanced Wilderness First Aid
Medical Response Program

Survival Programs
Basic Survival
Other Special Courses and Workshops

Emergency Management

An Introduction to Community Emergency Management

An Eight-Hour Managing Emergency Operations "Short Course." A Training Program For Public Officials, Private and Public Agencies, And Emergency/Disaster Workers. Attendees will learn "how they fit in" to a jurisdiction's disaster/emergency management planning process, and "how they can make a difference" during emergency/disaster operations.

Emergency Operation Centers - Training, Exercises and Drills

All Hands can design, facilitate and conduct EOC exercises and drills. We have extensive experience in conducting tabletop and functional exercises. In addition, All Hands provides Incident Command System (ICS) training. We can help your staff discover the need, purpose and benefits of implementing the ICS concepts in managing any type of emergency situation.

Incident Command System (ICS) Training Courses

Introduction to Incident Command System

Emergency operations management at the scene is concerned with minute-to-minute tactical decision making and problem solving by matching resource capabilities to priority needs. The basic foundation for any effective on-scene management capability must be adequate communication and coordination with the emergency operations center. The Incident Command System is designed to provide this fundamental coordination in emergency management, business continuity, crisis management, or disaster recovery situations.

In a disaster with multiple emergency sites, using the ICS ensures that disaster priorities and resource demands can be met. Our training program utilizes the most up-to-date text materials, case studies and research documents, plus the combined experience / knowledge of the instructors and course participants, to create a positive learning environment. This is further enhanced by the use of practical problem solving exercises. Designed to be a 8-hour course, our ICS training can be provided as a 4, 12, or 16-hour course, depending upon the numbers of class exercises and other supportive video case studies utilized.

This course is designed to provide the participant with knowledge about emergency/disaster field operations that will enable an incident manager (commander) to direct the work efforts of others in a more coordinated and efficient manner.
Course Content:

• The philosophy and concepts of effective emergency operations
• Blueprint for community emergency management; Incident commander: Job and responsibilities
• Lessons learned from the disaster research
• Emergency/disaster resources
• Planning: Development of an agency, organization response plan
• Development of direction and control; First notice, situation analysis, determining urgency
• On-scene management, principles of incident command
• Role of the emergency operations center (or command center)
• Legal issues; Dealing with the media; Relevant federal legislation, rules, standards

Basic (Introduction) Incident Command System

Discover the need, purpose and benefits of implementing the ICS concepts in managing any type of emergency situation. Learn the ICS operating requirements, major components and organization structure of an effective ICS, and how ICS interfaces with an established emergency operations center.
Course content:

• Principle features of ICS as an incident/event management system
• Organizational elements within each function of ICS and duties, terminology, staffing considerations, and reporting relationships
• Incident planning process, development of incident objectives, strategy/tactics, operational periods, planning meetings
• Multi-jurisdiction and/or multi-agency unified command. 8-hour course

Basic 3 to 5-Day Course Incident Command System

If ICS is to work during emergency and disaster operations, it must be integrated with the community's emergency operations center (EOC) and the community's disaster plan. This course contains a community model for connecting ICS and the EOC. All of the standard modules found within the federal NIIMS ICS courses are also included: Basic tenets, purpose, history; The major command and staff positions; Use of the ICS forms. Case studies and an "evolving serial exercise" provides a practical hands-on learning environment. ERI has packaged the student and instructor materials in such a manner that the course can be from a 4-hour introduction to a 40-hour concentrated course.

The Basic course features a 13-step process to be used within the first time period to organize a growing incident.
Course Content:

• Why the ICS System: History; Development; Components
• Overview of the ICS: Command and command staff; General staff functions
• The Incident Commander: Job and responsibilities; Concepts of management and leadership
• Overview of the ICS Command and Command Staff Positions: Specific responsibilities and procedures
• The Plans Function: Specific responsibilities and procedures
• The Operations Function: Specific responsibilities and procedures
• The Logistics Function: Specific responsibilities and procedures
• The Administration / Finance Function: Specific responsibilities and procedures
• Organizing an Incident
• Key ICS Elements: Planning and control of operations; Information flow; Resource management; Logistics management
• Use of the ICS: Single command; Unified command; Sample ICS structures (4 scenarios); Complex incidents; Dividing structures and buildings into divisions and groups
• ICS Forms and Paperwork
• ICS During Disaster Operations: The EOC / ICS interface

Incident Command System Federal Training Curriculum

All Hands ICS trainers are certified to teach the new federal ICS curriculum, consisting of 17 modules, organized into 6 "building block" courses, for a total of 69 hours. These courses can be taught in a series, as recommended by the national training curriculum, or individual modules can be "mixed or matched" to the needs of the intended audience.
Courses and Modules:

• I-100 (2 Hours) Introduction to ICS: (Module 1) ICS orientation
• I-200 (6 Hours) Basic ICS: (Module 2) Principles and features of ICS; (Module 3) Organizational overview; (Module 4) Incident facilities; (Module 5) Incident resources; (Module 6) Common responsibilities
• I-300 (27 Hours) Immediate ICS: (Module 7) Organization and staffing; (Module 8) Organizing for incidents or events (Module 9) Incident resources management; (Module 10) Air operations; (Module 11) Incident and event planning
• I-400 (22 Hours) Advanced ICS: (Module 12) Command and general staff; (Module 13) Unified command; (Module 14) Major incident management; (Module 15) Area command
• I-401 (4 Hours) Multi-Agency Coordination (Module 16)
• I-402 (2 Hours) ICS for Executives (Module 17)

Disaster First Aid and Leadership

This program will prepare employees to survive and recover from natural and human caused disasters by giving them knowledge and skills in disaster first aid and safety as well as disaster leadership and teamwork. These tools will help enable course graduates to deal more effectively with injuries, illness and psychological reactions in environments where no professional assistance is available for extended periods of time (hours or days rather than the minutes normal in most non-disaster, urban settings in the US. today).

Course Objectives

• To give employees a better sense for the definition of "disaster" and a realistic view of the implications of such events.
• To give employees some motivational encouragement to return to their homes and communities and begin to prepare there as they have at their place of employment.
• To give employees first aid knowledge and skills and additional tools useful to better respond to real life emergencies ranging from major regional disasters where professional help is not readily available to everyday, small-scale personal disasters where help is available within minutes.
• To encourage employees to use all of their individual and group resources of knowledge, skill, creativity and imagination so that they can apply the principles and skills they have learned to deal effectively with problems that don't have "book" solutions.
• To reinforce what employees already know about how leadership and teamwork get jobs done that individuals would find difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish alone.
• To help employees create and support within themselves a "can do" attitude that allows them to look into the horrible face of disaster and see the opportunities to save lives and reduce suffering through their actions.

Scope

Twenty-four hours of instruction and testing, including lecture/discussion, manual skill practice, individual and group problem solving, written test and practical exercises.

Evacuation Coordination

This 2-4 hour program is designed to be the introduction to the longer process of developing employee competency in managing evacuation of personnel from one space to another within a building and evacuation from buildings. Employees are introduced to the corporate evacuation plan as an evolving policy and procedures document and then are given the basics regarding the actual process of efficient, effective movement of people. The process is then to be followed up with drills, critique, revision of plans, retraining and more drills to refine the process. Each course is designed to work within the parameters of the client’s evacuation planning, physical plant and personnel situation.

Leadership and Team Building Courses

Team Building Among the Trees®

Set in the forest or a nearby park, our enjoyable one-day program provides an outstanding team-enhancing opportunity for organizations ranging from global companies to local fire/rescue departments.

The day starts with an introduction/review of essential wilderness navigation and safety skills followed by a series of progressive team navigation trainings and challenges.
Interspersed among the land navigation segments are specific, shorter, team building hands-on problem solving exercises that meld problem solving, cooperation, and leadership in an enjoyable format.

By the end of the day, teams will have a better perspective on how to work together in order to deal more effectively with normal and novel situations, whether in a wooded setting or work environment. In turn, individual team members will have an enhanced appreciation of how they can make a meaningful contribution to the team while realizing their own objectives.

In sum, this one-day in-the-field experience centers on enhancing communication, cooperation, and coordination. Moreover, both teams and individuals will find the day beneficial and enjoyable.
While most find our one-day program an ideal fit, other teams, organizations, and agencies seeking more will want to inquire about our two- and three-day programs.

Leadership and Team Building

Organizational needs for employee training and development in leadership and team building are met by going to greater depth on the issues of leadership and teambuilding in the context of our Disaster First Aid and Leadership training program (above). Our certified and experienced organizational development specialists integrate 40 hours of theoretical and practical sessions to develop your employees' leadership potential and teamwork skills within your emergency preparedness/response program.

Team Engineering

High-Performance Principles for Crisis and Emergency Response Teams

Your Continuity and Emergency Plans are only as good as the teams who design and implement those plans. Your teams are only as good as the training they receive. In extreme situations, people either focus, fold or freeze. Team Engineering presents the principles and proven methodologies for creating optimal, high-performance and 'world-class' project teams.

Topics Include:

• Anatomy of a High-Performance Team
• Team Engineering Project & Growth Phases
• The Six Key Operating States
• The Accountability Myth
• Sustaining & Replicating the High-Performance Process

Team Building - Human Factors

One of the most challenging aspects of any organization is getting all the people to be aware, prepared and trained to respond effectively during a crisis.

All Hands can provide expert trainers who specialize in the human factors aspects of Business Continuity, Crisis, and Emergency Response Teams.

As an added resource, we:

• Work closely with management to help design, develop, implement and follow-up with all training
• Incorporate the most effective models and processes for training people to respond rather than react
• Deal with employees' concerns for safety and well-being and prepares them before an event
• Help to train the crisis management and planning teams and assist them in moving beyond preconceived mindsets

Navigating Among the Trees®

Set in a nearby park or some of the nation's most interesting backcountry, our one-half to four-day programs provide an excellent opportunity to learn, hone, or self-evaluate one's practical navigational skills and insights.

Basic Half-Day Workshop

Our basic half-day in-the-park program is a great way to take the mystery out of map and compass tools and get you started on an exciting time navigating the local trails or more distant terrain. Compasses, maps, and a mini-field guide are provided for participants, but one should dress for an afternoon in the park. No prior knowledge is required, though many with experience find this a good review.

Basic GPS Half-Day Workshop

Our basic half-day in-the-park GPS workshop is a great way to learn the basics of using this excellent navigational tool to supplement your map and compass. We also cover which GPS is best suited to your needs. All navigation equipment is available for use during the course, though you are most welcome to use your own. One must have basic map and compass skills for this workshop.

Other General Courses and Workshops

Our full-day basic navigation plus workshop features additional hands-on components and background material, including: map selection for trip planning; time, distance, and terrain evaluation, and introduction to off-trail navigation.

Our two-day intermediate workshop includes practical night and low visibility navigation insights and skills as well as more route choice and travel safety practice and principles for on- and off-trail navigation.

Other Special Courses and Workshops

Our full-day GPS workshop features additional hands-on components and background material, including: efficient waypoint and route management; optimizing your GPS for field and map; reliability insights; introduction to mapping software; and enhancing your GPS confidence for travel, trail, or backcountry use.

Our two-day intermediate GPS workshop includes: practical night, low visibility, and featureless terrain hands-on training; altimeter/GPS synergies; additional electronic map/GPS experience; and making the most of your GPS navigational tool.

Our four-day field camp workshop affords an excellent outdoor learning adventure, with two nights being spent in the outdoors. While this is offered for biking, x-c skiing, and kayaking, our most popular focus is our hiking/base camp program.

Our specialized training for search and rescue, fire rescue, teachers, writers, as well as custom training for individuals or teams needing enhanced navigational skills is also available.

First Aid and Medical Programs

First Aid, EMS, & Survival Among the Trees®

Whether one is planning for an afternoon or multi-day adventure or is the victim of an in-town disaster, wilderness first aid and prolonged care skills are extremely useful and may indeed save lives.

We also offer a variety of survival programs that foster a "staying safe, but know what to do if disaster strikes", mind- and skill-set.

Basic Wilderness First Aid

Our two-day course covers what do to when medical response is delayed beyond two hours, regardless of the location. This course includes the National Safety Council and the Wilderness Medical Society's Wilderness First Aid text. Those completing the program earn a Basic Wilderness First Aid Certificate.
This, like all our courses, is very much a hands-on program. (All our first aid programs also require standard first aid and CPR.)

Advanced Wilderness First Aid

Our advanced two-day program starts where our basic course finishes. Upon completing this program one should be able to assess and address most prolonged care situations and direct others toward this effort.

Medical Response Program

Our EMTs Among the Trees Seminar is aimed at EMT-B and above responders who seek additional relevant and insightful medical material in a small group and wooded setting. These seminars are normally recommended for CME hours by Washington State.

Other Special Courses and Workshops

Our specialized training for search and rescue, fire rescue, educators, trail crew leaders, camp counselors as well as custom training for individuals or teams needing enhanced response skills is also available.

Survival Programs

Basic Survival

Our one-day program focuses upon those skills and insights that one should have regarding: attitude and overall approach; shelter; fire building; rest; signaling; rest; water; and food. Approximately half the day is spent in the field actually practicing these elements. Also covered is: gear selection; how to best avoid problems; and what sort of rescue response you might expect, should disaster strike.

Our two-day program includes all of our one-day program elements plus expands your comfort zone by offering a night out in a survival shelter and "field cooking." The course also includes additional tips and techniques as well as advice on how to assume a leadership role and help others in a survival situation.

Other Special Courses and Workshops

We offer a rich selection of specialized programs including:

• Winter survival
• Desert survival
• Water Safety and survival techniques
• Pilots, aircrew, or passenger survival
• Search and Rescue responder survival
• EMS and CERT responder survival
  

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