Top Safety Training Videos for Homeland Security

These days, homeland security and terrorism response are subjects much on the minds of emergency response personnel. The World Trade Center attack in 2001 shook the entire nation out of its sense of complacency and made Americans realize that they were woefully unprepared to deal with disaster. Americans have come to the realization that emergency response – not just to terrorist attacks, but to natural and industrial disasters – is not just a matter for the Army or the National Guard. A well-trained corps of emergency first responders is essential in facing any emergency or disaster. Firefighters, EMT’s and police who are trained in handling large-scale disasters can make the difference between rescue and further disaster.

Training videos are among the best tools for preparing local emergency responders to respond to emergency situations. A good safety training video can illustrate disaster situations and teach proper response to them in ways that a dry lecture or reading material can’t approach. There are a number of excellent safety training videos on the market that can be used in conjunction with drills and other safety training measures to prepare first responders in emergency preparedness.

For First Responders

In the event of a terrorist attack, local first responders will be on the scene for hours before federal reinforcements arrive. Their actions and the decisions made in those first hours can save lives, contain damage and have rescue efforts well underway by the time help arrives. These films are designed specifically to train first responders with no disaster training to recognize terrorist attacks, and respond to them effectively.

Terrorism: First Response (Emergency Film Group)

Terrorism: First Response is an award winning film that provides a thorough overview of information central to understanding the scope and importance of various elements of a first response action plan. The subjects covered include:

• recognizing possible terrorist targets


• creating an emergency response plan


• understanding the four types of terrorist weapons


• recognizing a terrorist attack


• establishing a control zone


• triage and stabilization of injured


• securing the area


• preserving and documenting evidence


• the role of the terrorism intervention team

• The Incident Command Structure


• The advantages of using a standardized management system during complex situations


• How Command is established, used and transferred


• The role and responsibility of the incident commander’s staff


• The four sections that may be activated in complex incidents


• Coordination of multiple agencies through emergency operations centers


• Managing incident related information and intelligence

• issues to consider when deciding whether to take protective actions


• deciding between evacuation and shelter in place options


• how to implement evacuation with advance and with no warning


• pre-emergency evacuation


• post-emergency evacuation


• how to determine the evacuation area


• how to alert the public to plans


• determining evacuation routes


• easing reentry after evacuation


• setting up and maintaining shelter in schools, public buildings, homes and other venues


• terminating protective actions – when and how