Mobile Apps
Delaware Tips
Delaware Tips is a mobile app that allows first responders to quickly access information on how to best assist people with disabilities, or chronic healthcare conditions, during an emergency from a mobile phone. The information can be accessed from any cellphone, tablet, or personal computer.
The SAMHSA Disaster App
The SAMHSA Disaster App is an app for behavioral health responders, as well as other first responders, to look up resources during and after a disaster. This app is for users to provide behavioral health supports to individuals. There are links for people who are preparing to deploy, those providing on-the-ground assistance, and information on post-deployment resources among others. Users can find local behavioral health services and providers, share resources, find tips to help survivors cope, and have access to self-care support during all stages of deployment.
http://store.samhsa.gov/apps/disaster/?WT.mc_id=EB_20140311_DISASTERAPP
Training
State of Delaware
Delaware has five continuing education credits on autism awareness available to first responders. State licensed Police Officers, Firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and other first responders can complete the interactive online training through Prevent-Educate.org for Autism Awareness.
Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
An independent study (IS) program is available through the EMI. The IS program are self-paced online courses for individuals who work in emergency management, as well as other interested individuals in the public. There is no cost associated with taking any of the IS courses.
Independent study course 368 (IS-368), “Including People with Disabilities & Others with Access & Functional Needs in Disaster Operations,” is newly offered as of February 20, 2014. Designed to increase understanding and awareness of people with disabilities (PWD) and access and functional needs (AFN), the course describes how disaster staff can include PWD and AFN in disaster assignments. The course length is 2 hours and is a .2 CEU course.
http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-368
Columbia University
The National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University provides online courses and webinars, face-to-face training opportunities, just-in-time trainings, and runs conferences on public health emergencies. The online courses and webinars are designed to give participants knowledge and training on public health preparedness, response, and recovery. There are certificate courses available, as well as continuing education courses that fulfill continuing education requirements for Certified Health Education Specialists.
http://ncdp.columbia.edu/practice/training-education/online-face-to-face-training/
Other Resources
The Quick Series guides comes from a specialty publisher that produces pocket guides of essential information on a variety of topics. One guide is dedicated to emergency preparedness for people with functional needs. The Quickseries Mobile® Reader (free) allows you to download, view, and interact with the QuickSeries® eGuides (available for purchase). These guides deal with different aspects of the disaster cycle, as well as hazard specific information. Guides are also available for specific groups, such as law enforcement, EMS and fire, government, public health, and non-profit entities.
