Participants at a Course on Assistance and Protection against chemical weapons held in Czech Republic.
A course for instructors on Assistance and Protection against chemical weapons co-organised by the Government of Czech Republic and OPCW was held in Lazne Bohdanec from 20 to 27 May 2015.
The course provided training to 16 experts from 16 State Parties* covering planning for as well as preparation, conduct and evaluation of response operations in contaminated areas. The course included an advanced component on complex emergency responses to a crisis involving chemical weapons or toxic industrial chemicals. Participants also received advanced instruction on detection and reconnaissance, decontamination, the use of individual protective equipment, the medical aspects of a response, and managing a response. Finally, they conducted practical exercises in mounting a response in contaminated areas.
As the main part of this course, participants were responsible to prepare for and provide training to other participants in preparation for their role of instructors in their respective countries. Additionally, they were given a variety of tasks, including command roles, during the practical exercises to ensure that they were fully cognizant of all aspects of chemical emergency response.
*Algeria, Azerbaijan, Congo, Costa Rica, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, Sudan, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom.