In the last five years, the United States has been averaging 23 weather disasters per year, each costing at or above a billion dollars in damages. Severe weather brings severe environmental conditions that place fire and EMS professionals at risk. Up to 75% of firefighters report symptoms of a heat-related illness at some point, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics averages about 3 worker deaths per year for professionals working outdoors in cold weather. To combat these statistics and protect emergency responders, they need to be aware of the risks, causes, signs, and symptoms of cold injuries and heat-related illnesses and how to treat them. To support that effort, this course bases its information on guidelines from OSHA, NFPA 1550, NFPA 1580, and NFPA 1584.

In every community, there are spaces with unique characteristics that present potential hazards. These areas, referred to as confined spaces, are defined by their limited access and egress, making entry and exit particularly challenging. Confined spaces can exist in diverse settings, including industrial facilities, construction sites, and public infrastructure. Examples include tanks, silos, tunnels, manholes, and pipelines. Despite appearing unremarkable, these spaces often harbor hidden dangers, such as toxic atmospheres, engulfment risks, or hazardous structural configurations, which pose serious threats to individuals who enter without proper training and safety measures.

40 years of statistical data conclude that of all the harmful workplace exposures, electricity exposure is the leading cause of workplace fatality. These statistics include fire and EMS professionals and their encounters with electrical hazards. Electricity operates in every building, is used by many components of emergency equipment, and spans across every open space as a power line - making the possibility of electrocution and electric shock a common workplace consideration. As a first responder, you must understand how to handle electrical hazards on the fireground or incident scene for your safety and the safety of everyone at the scene. By the end, you'll be able to recognize critical electrical hazards and understand how to protect yourself from electric shock while working in fire and emergency services. This course addresses standards OSHA CFR 1910 (subpart S), OSHA 29 CFR 1926 (subpart K), and NFPA 70E.

As first responders, you face new challenges and hazards that test your skills, knowledge, and courage daily. This course will give you critical information and strategies to navigate these dangers effectively, focusing on essential OSHA standards and emergency action plans. Understanding and applying these guidelines will enhance your ability to protect yourself, your team, and those you serve in every emergency scenario.

Most of us know that falls can account for injuries such as wounds, sprains, fractures, and dislocations, but did you know that these injuries can also account for up to 74% of all non-emergency workplace accidents among fire and EMS responders? Employees have a responsibility to be aware of potential hazards around the workplace and report unsafe conditions. Employers have a responsibility to protect employees and ensure comprehensive training around these hazards. OSHA 1910 Subpart D covers fall protection and safety surrounding walking-working surfaces and forms the basis of this course.

Research has found that about 40% of firefighters experience some level of hearing loss due to exposure on the field and in the firehouse. When we think about hearing loss, we assume it is only caused by long durations or loud noises, which is incorrect. Further research has been done on the subject and found that it is not only noise exposure but also exposure to certain harmful chemicals that we are exposed to in the field. While most forego the use of hearing protective equipment to avoid not hearing communications of sounds of the scene, they are doing more harm than good because the more exposure they subject themselves to in those instances, the worse off their hearing will be in the near future.

First responders have many hazards that accompany the field: risk of injury trying to offer assistance to someone in need, risk of contracting a virus like cold or flu, or even more serious ones, like bloodborne pathogens. It is important to take the necessary steps to protect yourself from all hazards, but it is also important to understand why. In this course, we will focus on the bloodborne pathogen Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and its late-stage form of the disease when left untreated, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), how it can be contracted, treated, and prevented, as well as steps to keep yourself and other patients safe from this infection. Employers should follow the OSHA standard 1910.1030 to provide a safer environment for first responders due to the greater risk of contracting a virus of this type.

Responding to an emergency call at a location that handles hazardous materials and machines can be a frightening situation if you do not have the proper training. Industries that work with such materials are required to have a lockout/tagout system in place to prevent these situations from happening, but sometimes accidents will happen anyway. As a first responder, you must go into these calls with your training, an understanding of how to handle these locks and tags, and knowing that you will have to be even more cautious when providing care as your actions may have adverse reactions when it comes to dealing with hazardous materials and machines.

When was the last time you or someone you know got hurt on the job? Studies show that firefighters sustain about 60,000 injuries annually, and EMS professionals sustain about 23,000 injuries annually from responding to emergency calls. That doesn’t include regular injuries sustained at the station or over time. PPE can lessen the impact of these injuries and help you to keep answering the next call for help. This course will address the types of PPE available for fire and EMS professionals, legal requirements from OSHA regulations, and tips for maintaining your equipment and staying “combat ready.” NFPA 1971, OSHA 29 CFR 1910, and OSHA 29 CFR 1926 are referenced throughout.

At 8% oxygenation in the atmosphere, fatality can occur in 8 minutes. The odds are, you will respond to calls with respiratory hazards. Clear thoughts and oxygenated muscles will help you on any emergency scene. Clear, oxygenated air supports your body’s life-supporting functions and keeps you performing at your best. All emergency personnel must properly utilize their respiratory protection. This course will detail the foundational principles for establishing and using respiratory protection in the fire and EMS sectors of service in consultation with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134, NFPA 1981 and NFPA 1852 SCBA Standards, NFPA 1970, NIOSH 30 CFR Part 11 and NIOSH 42 CFR Part 84.