OVGH Emergency Responder Attends Homeland Security Training.

Emergency Responder Timonthy P. McDonald, from Ohio Valley General Hospital, recently completed Homeland Security training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP), located in Anniston, Alabama.  The CDP is operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency and is the only federally-chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training facility in the nation.

"The CDP program provides great hands-on experiences and an unbelievable education," said McDonald, who completed classroom, physical, and hands-on training in triage, decontamination, and respiratory protection with live field drills and evaluations of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear dangers and explosives.  

McDonald also noted that the training was some of the most advanced and difficult training he has ever received.

The training exercises were based on real life experiences where we are working with limited resources, extreme weather situations, protecting your personal safety, and trusting someone you just met with your life," McDonald explains.  "The training is tough but the knowledge gained can definitely help increase safety to you and those around you and in most importantly - in an emergency situation."

Tim McDonald assists an OVGH nursing student during an emergency preparedness drill.

The CDP provides federally-funded, interdisciplinary training for emergency responders in Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) across the United States, and the U.S. Territories, for 10 response disciplines: Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Service, Governmental Administrative, Hazardous Materials, Healthcare, Law Enforcement, Public Health, Public Safety Communications, and Public Works. 

Resident training at the CDP's campus in Anniston, Ala., includes healthcare and Public Health training at the CDP's Noble Training Facility, the nation's only hospital facility dedicated to training hospital and healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and response.

A number of resident training courses culminate at the CDP's Chemical, Ordnance, Biological and Radiological Training Facility, the nation's only facility featuring civilian training exercises in a true toxic environment, using chemical agents.  The advanced hands-on training enables responders to effectively prevent, respond to, and recover from real-world incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazardous materials.

Responders participating in CDP resident and nonresident training courses are selected from the nation's 11 million emergency responders.  The training ensures that responders gain critical skills and confidence to be better prepared to effectively respond to local incidents or potential WMD incidents.

Information about CDP training programs can be found at http://cdp.dhs.gov. Visit the News and Media tab of the site to download images, share CDP training articles, and find out what others are saying about CDP training.  For more information regarding CDP facts and photograph requests, contact Shannon Arledge, Public Affairs Specialist, at 256-847-2212 or email pao@cdpemail.dhs.gov.