The Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) also offers emergency planning and preparedness training through a variety of programs and classes – some by request. See list below for a sample of classes offered. Class schedules and registration links will be posted on this site’s homepage as they become available. Check this site often for class updates and information.
After September 11, 2001, federal, state, and local emergency and enforcement agencies enhanced their emergency preparedness plans and training. However, as witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, first responders may not be able to prevent the loss of lives and property during a large-scale disaster. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone learns how to respond to warnings, prepare to address emergency situations, and sustain themselves to help lessen the personal impact of a natural or man-made disaster.
- Basic Emergency Preparedness Class
- Bleeding Control (B-Con)
- Campus Emergencies: Responses to Violence
- Community Emergency Response Team
- Conflict De-escalation Techniques
- CPR / AED Certification
- Disease Prevention
- Medical Reserve Corps
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System ICS 100.HE for Higher Education (Online course from FEMA)
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) IS 700.a (Online Course from FEMA)
- Plan, Prepare, React: Active Shooter Response Options for Students, Faculty and Staff
- Planning for Emergencies in Your Building
- Taking Care of Business: How Departments Can Continue Operations After an Emergency
- Travel Safety and Security
► Basic Emergency Preparedness
Course Length: 2 hours
Availability / registration / location: Scheduled quarterly at UGA Training and Development Center or other campus locations. Also available to all departments by request.
Description: Individual preparedness is the responsibility of all faculty, staff and students on the UGA campus. Everyone should know how to prepare, respond to and recover from an emergency or disaster both at home and in the workplace. This class will help prepare members of the UGA community to respond to various building level emergencies and national emergencies.
Course Length: 2 hours
Availability / registration / location: Scheduled quarterly at UGA Training and Development Center or other campus locations. Also available to all departments by request.
Description: This course teaches participants the basic life-saving medical interventions, including bleeding control using a tourniquet, bleeding control with gauze packs, and opening an airway to allow the victim to breathe. Skill demonstration is a part of the class.
► Campus Emergencies: Responses to Violence
Course Length: 1 to 2 hours (adjustable length due to interactive exercises)
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments by request.
Description: This class discusses violence in educational settings and reviews several high-profile incidents. The presentation includes information on how faculty, staff and students should respond to violent situations based on best practices. Small group discussions of several scenarios may be included that involve hypothetical situations and the best responses to those situations.
► Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Course Length: 8 weeks – 2.5 hours each
Availability / registration / location: Available twice per year.
Description: The UGA CERT program educates the campus community (faculty, staff and students) about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. This training allows the UGA CERT members the ability to assist in giving critical support to others in the event of a campus disaster.
► Conflict De-escalation Techniques
Course Length: 1 to 2 hours (adjustable time schedule based on class parameters)
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments by request.
Description: This class will focus on techniques to keep a confrontation from becoming violent. Many members of the UGA community are involved in exchanges that have the potential to become heated. Some of these encounters are with the public, students or other co-workers. Some individuals become frustrated when they do not receive the answer they desire and become difficult to deal with. This class will discuss how to keep unpleasant encounters of this nature from becoming violent and how to de-escalate a heated exchange. The goal of the class will be to provide the participants with the ability to obtain voluntary compliance from an individual who does not want to comply. This is an entry-level, beginner type class that will introduce these concepts and ideas.
Course Length: 4 hours
Availability / registration / location: Available to UGA BSSRs, AED Coordinators, MRC and CERT members
Description: Would you know what to do in a cardiac, breathing or first aid emergency? The right answer could help you save a life. As a member of the University of Georgia community, you should really consider becoming certified in CPR/AEDs. There are several opportunities for certification on the UGA campus and within the Athens-Clarke County community. The University Health Center offers several classes throughout the year, along with Recreational Sports. The American Red Cross and Athens Regional also offer certification classes. Please become certified in CPR, it could save a life.
► Disease Prevention
Course Length: 1.5 hours
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments by request.
Description: This course provides a basic overview of common infectious diseases, including Hepatitis and Influenza. It defines how these diseases are transmitted and precautions that an individual may take as it pertains to disease prevention. The course will conclude with basic disease prevention strategies, including vaccination and post-exposure recommendations.
► Medical Reserve Corps
Description: The mission of the University of Georgia Medical Reserve Corps is to support the UGA Campus, Clarke County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Public Health and the local hospitals’ response plans where medical personnel support is needed.
► Plan, Prepare, React: Active Shooter Response Options for Students, Faculty and Staff
Course Length: 1 to 2 hours (adjustable length due to interactive exercises and video)
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments and student groups by request.
Description: An active shooter is defined as an armed person who has used deadly force on people and continues to do so while having unrestricted access to additional victims. Although active shooter incidents on college campuses are rare events, the shootings which occurred on the Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University and other campuses demonstrate that faculty, staff and students should be ready for any type of emergency. This training program, which includes a 15-minute video and a training scenario, was developed on the UGA campus to be a resource for all 29 University System of Georgia institutions. The goal of this program is to provide faculty, staff and students with emergency response options should they become involved in an active shooter situation on campus or in the community.
Additional information on Plan, Prepare, React: Active Shooter Response Options for Students, Faculty and Staff.
► Planning for Emergencies in Your Building
Course Length: 1 hour
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments by request. Classes held at the UGA Training and Development Center
Description: This class is intended for all UGA employees and students who wish to be better prepared for emergencies in their buildings. Specific topics will include what to do in case of a fire, tornado, medical emergency, active shooter and other emergency situations that may impact a building or classroom. Emergency notification and a brief explanation of overall campus emergency planning will be discussed.
► Taking Care of Business: How Departments Can Continue Operations After an Emergency
Course Length: 1 hour
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments by request. Classes held at the UGA Training and Development Center
Description: Business Continuity Planning (BCP) is the practice of planning how your department will provide services or conduct departmental business during or after an emergency. This course will include examples of how business continuity plans can benefit your department and improve your readiness for a variety of possible disasters. Additionally, participants will learn how to access a University-based online planning system which will assist departments with developing their continuity plans.
Course Length: 1 to 2 hours (adjustable time schedule based on class parameters)
Availability / registration / location: Available to all departments by request.
Description: UGA faculty, staff and students travel domestically and internationally on a frequent basis. Safety, security and emergency planning considerations should be a part of a well-planned trip. This class offers tips and techniques that may assist the first time traveler or the well-seasoned traveler avoid potential problems at the airport, on mass transit, at their hotel and while touring at their destination.
