IED Responses to Mass Transit and Passenger Rail Systems Training
America's first responders and mass transit police have an opportunity to enhance their ability to respond to improvised explosive device incidents and Hazmat materials incidents.
Another important aspect of the training is to reacting to the possibility of secondary devices or multiple explosions. A known bomber tactic is to use a distraction, such as gunfire, small bombs or other surprises, to attract bystanders to a window, a doorway or outside, and then to detonate a second destructive device at the gathering point. In an attack, there may be bombings at multiple locations. Rescue efforts can be hampered by the need to respond to more than one site. Participants of the course will learn how to search for and identify multiple IEDs at the disaster site.
The "Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Response on Mass Transit and Passenger Rail Systems" and "A WMD Event: Freight Rail Hazardous Materials Incident Response Involving Mass Transit and Passenger Rail Systems" course also addresses the technical aspects of planning and implementing an Incident Command System to provide command and control over a post IED incident. This is achieved through classroom presentations, hands-on performance-based training, and scenario-based practical/functional exercises.
Course Outlines
The course initiative was a collaborative effort accomplished through coordination between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) and is sponsored by the Joint Interagency Education and Training Center (JITEC).
On training day one of both courses, the participants will have a TSA overview, a mass transit and passenger rail systems overview, and an IED or Hazmat overview. To prepare for the full exercise, the participants will have a scenario briefing and develop an incident action plan.
On training day two, the participants will have a basic review of the incident command systems fundamentals and will learn about LANES training. At that time key leadership roles and the unified command structure will be established. During the LANES Training event — in a realistic environment — the participants will perform hands-on actions involving two critical threat-incident tasks to sustain and improve their first responder skills. They will demonstrate the ability to successfully triage, package and stabilize a victim after an explosion or Hazmat incident. The students will also learn how to accurately recognize and identify examples of IEDs in a realistic setting in the IED course. The Hazmat course will include a "Round Robin" training in areas such as Hazmat management, triage and patient packaging.
A full-scale exercise on training day three will begin with a scenario provided in the exercise management plan. It will include weather conditions and a scenario based on response to a post IED or Hazmat incident on a mass transit or passenger rail systems. The briefing will be conducted to review the exercise objectives, reinforce the rules of engagement and stress safety. After each training day will be a "hotwash" where participants are encourage to ask questions.
The target audience includes state and local law enforcement, transit first responders, emergency medical services, fire service and hazardous materials personnel and includes 2.8 Continuing Education Credits (CEU's) for the IED course and 2.9 CEU's for the Hazmat course at the completion of the course. Enrollment is offered to both individual responders and organizational teams. Lodging and meals are included in the price of course. Suggested prerequisites for both courses include ICS 100, 200, 300, 700 and 800 and a Hazmat Operators Certification for the Hazmat course. The courses, which currently take place at the CNR Tunnel will soon be available as a mobile course.
Course Objectives Include:
• Develop and execute an incident action plan (IAP) and direct and coordinate explosive device response operations
• Conduct search and on-site assessment, public safety and security response operations, traffic, crowd, and scene control operations, law enforcement operations, and fire operations assessments
• Conduct public information; alert/warning, and notification operations
• Conduct triage and pre-hospital operations, develop a medical transportation plan
• Develop evacuation plans as applicable to event
• Demobilize the on-site incident command
