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 The post-September 11, 2001 world has brought the concept of Homeland Security to the forefront of U.S. life. With the United States continually under threat of terror attack the need to be prepared for those attacks, has never been greater.
RaPiD-T trains those responders that will be on the front lines of the next attack, preparing them to deal with the unthinkable. RaPiD-T gives responders to a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) event the knowledge and the skills necessary to make the proper treatment decisions, and the proper decisions when it comes to their own safety.
RaPiD-T has been presented to a diverse audience throughout the USA and in Puerto Rico. Attendees have included EMT-Basics, EMT-Intermediates, EMT-Paramedics, Nurses, physicians, Toxicologists, Law Enforcement, and HazMat Providers. RaPiD-T has proven itself to be flexible enough of a system to work with various disciplines and specialties and work well enough with different levels of medical training. Having such a diverse group of people trained on the RaPiD-T system allows for those working an event to work well with one another regardless of their level of training or specialty.
What is RaPiD-T?
The specific components of RaPiD-T program are (R) recognition, (P) protection, (D) decontamination, and (T) triage/(T)treatment. These WMD fundamentals for Emergency Physicians are taught with the same emphasis as the “ABC’s” during ACLS(tm) training. If the RaPiD-T is performed prior to any BLS(tm) or ACLS(tm) intervention, health care providers can optimize patient care, minimize secondary contamination of their facilities, and reduce the risk of becoming a victim as well.
What are some key points about RaPiD-T?
- A program for training WMD first responders.
- Simple and understandable matrices
- A rapidly deployable curriculum that can be easily implemented anywhere and can easily meet anyone's training needs
What does RaPiD-T cover?
- Nuclear Exposures
- Biological Weapons
- Chemical Weapons
- Nerve Agents
- Crush, Incendiary, and Blast events
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Hasty DECON Techniques
- Signs, symptoms, and injuries
- Scene Size up and management skills
- Detections devices
- Antidote administration
Teaching Techniques Employed by RaPiD-T
- Classical lecture and presentation
- MicroSim, Simulation software
- Table top scene discussions
- Practical sessions:
Where has RaPiD-T Been Taught?
The RaPiD-T program has had the privilege of working with many different groups both here in western Pennsylvania and in other wonderful locations. RaPiD-T is a versatile and flexible program that allows us to present the program effectively and successfully in a multitude of different locations. Examples of some locations that we had the privilege to visit with the program are:
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 2005, EMSI Update Conference
- Sandpoint Idaho
- Willoughby, Ohio
For more information on RaPiD-T, keep an eye on this website for changes or contact Michael Hahn at the Center for Emergency Medicine at (412) 647-4242.
The Center for Emergency Medicine, as an educational institution and as an employer, values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial/ethnic and cultural diversity. Accordingly, the Center prohibits and will not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. This policy applies to admissions, employment, access to and treatment by Center programs and activities. This is a commitment made by the Center and is in accordance with federal, state, and or local laws and regulations.
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