Emergency Communications Training

Having your amateur radio license doesn't make you an effective emergency communicator any more than a driver's license makes a teenager a good motorist. Becoming an effective emergency communicator is a matter of training and experience. Training provides background knowledge of what to do; Experience teaches you how to do them effectively. Training and experience are not exclusive subjects. Possessing one is a fine start to obtaining the other to ensure your effectiveness.

KYHAM supports all efforts to expand the knowledge of amateur radio volunteers. It is hoped that his section can serve as a solid starting point to discover available EmComm resources.

Kentucky Amateur Radio Emergency Service offers the KY ARES Online Training Course without cost to amateur radio operators and public safety professionals. In addition to recognition by KY ARES, the course grants 2 CEU's from Kentucky Emergency Management. Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a PDF certificate and will be listed on the KY ARES Training Graduate Page.

Effective in 2006, many public service agencies and facilities began requiring volunteers to complete National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training. The most commonly required courses are IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800. These free courses and many others are available on the Federal Emergency Management's Independent Study Program Web Site.

The American Radio Relay League offers several emergency communications courses in its Continuing Education Program. These courses are open to all amateurs and require tuition.

Perhaps the most important training any of us can take is basic first aid and CPR training. The probability you will use those skills in a disaster doesn't compare to the possibility you may use them to help a family member or co-worker. This training is available from the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

The United States Citizen's Corps Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program provides basic community response skills during time of disaster. Kentucky CERT Groups are listed here.

Kentucky Emergency Management offers a wide variety of training courses.