Purpose of the Course
The course is being organised by the Technical Secretariat and will provide training for instructors who are involved in training first responders to chemical emergency incidents. The course will cover the following topics:
- protection of personnel during a chemical emergency;
- sampling and detection procedures;
- rescue and decontamination operations in contaminated areas; and
- appropriate responses and countermeasures in the event of incidents involving chemical warfare agents or toxic chemicals.
The course will also provide an overview of the kinds of assistance the OPCW can provide, and will help participating States Parties to enhance the ability and skills of instructors in their countries to offer training on how to provide protection against chemical weapons and other toxic chemicals, as well as on how to manage chemical incidents.
Content
The course will include individual and team procedures, tactics, and processes to deliver required operational readiness and to understand the complexity of hot/warm/cold zone management during a chemical incident.
The course will offer an introduction to the use of a chemical incident evaluation system using web-based databases. It will also facilitate the exchange of information and experiences regarding the implementation of Article X of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The course will include table-top and field exercises on emergency response to chemical incidents.