Training Opportunities

  • ​Dates: September 23-27, 2024
  • Time:  8:00AM - 5:00PM daily
  • Instructor: Rodney Winters

Course Overview: Hazardous Materials Technician (HMT) is a four-day course that prepares Operations-level responders for Technician-level Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) certification. This 40-hour course, based on NFPA® 1072: Standard for Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications and NFPA® 472 standards, provides participants with HAZMAT-specific response knowledge and skills, enabling them to respond safely and effectively to a suspected incident at the hazardous materials technician level. Participants receive hands-on training in donning and doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Levels A and B, containing leaks and drum over-packing, containing leaks in pressurized containers, and performing technical and mass decontamination. The HMT course culminates with performance of these offensive-level tasks in an activity in which the participants apply the knowledge and skills learned in a simulated HAZMAT environment. Graduates can take the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) exam for HAZMAT Technician certification.

Location: Dunbar Fire Department 
907 Dunbar Avenue 
Dunbar, WV 25064

How to Register for the Course:​ Download the flyer​ for registration details. 

Dates:     ​​October 7: 8AM-5PM.  ​​​​​​October 8: 1PM-10PM

Location:        300 Rich Wolfe Drive, Kingwood, WV 25637

Course Overview: This 16-hour course teaches crucial components of executing successful drone/UAS search and rescue mission in various environments. Topics of the class will be UAS SAR procedures, search methods, vital software, nighttime operations, additional SAR tactics. Utilizing personal/ agency-issued drones to maximize flight time is encouraged.

(Part 107 certificate required for scenario flights.)

Instructor:  Public Safety UAS

Download the flyer ​for registration details.​

Wilderness First Aid Course # 25-157-03

Dates:     October 8, 9: ZOOM online classes 6pm to 10pm. Students must contact instructor for online class: bob@ruzewski.com 
​​​​​​October 12, 13 - in person class

Location:        State Fair of West Virginia, WVU Building, 947 Maplewood Avenue, Lewisburg, WV

Course Overview: Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is a 16-hour course designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to medical emergencies and injuries in remote and outdoor settings. Students will learn how to assess, treat, and manage common injuries and illnesses that may occur in wilderness environments, where access to medical help is limited or delayed. This course emphasizes hands-on training, scenario-based learning, and practical application of first aid principles in challenging outdoor conditions.

WVEMD will provide Wilderness First Aid Training Materials.

Students will be responsible for transportation costs and meals.

Instructor:  Bob Ruzewski - Spot On Training, LLC

Download the flyer ​for registration details.​

Dates:     October 15, 17: ZOOM online classes 6pm to 10pm. Students must contact instructor for online class: bob@ruzewski.com 
​​​​​​October 19: In-person class

Location:        Baker Heights VFD 36 Danbury Lane, Martinsburg, WV 25401​

Course Overview: Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is a 16-hour course designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to medical emergencies and injuries in remote and outdoor settings. Students will learn how to assess, treat, and manage common injuries and illnesses that may occur in wilderness environments, where access to medical help is limited or delayed. This course emphasizes hands-on training, scenario-based learning, and practical application of first aid principles in challenging outdoor conditions.

WVEMD will provide Wilderness First Aid Training Materials.

Students will be responsible for transportation costs and meals.

Instructor:  Bob Ruzewski - Spot On Training, LLC

Download the flyer ​for registration details.​​

​Dates:     October 18, 19, 20, 2024

Location:     Classroom1700 MacCorkle Ave. S. E. 6th Floor Charleston, WV.  Field Exercises:  Kanawha State Forest.

Register soon. There is a maximum of 25 students
Search and Rescue Skills for First Responders (SFR) is a 20-hour course designed to equip  participants with awareness, basic knowledge, and the introductory skills necessary to effectively initiate and respond to a missing person mission.

Students will be exposed to Search Operations, methods for establishing the search area, an overview of SAR skills (management, Lost Person Behavior, Tracking, Search Team Leader and Search Team member) Land Navigation (with and Without Technology) Clue Awareness, Patient Packaging and Litter handling.

This course emphasizes a broad overview of many SAR related skills using classroom instruction, practical exercises and hands on learning.

Students are responsible for their meals, lodging and transportation to class.

Download the flyer ​​for registration details.​

  • ​Dates: October 21-26, 2024
  • Time:  8:00AM - 6:00PM daily

Course Overview: Hazardous Materials Technician (HMT) is a six-day 8am – 6pm course that prepares Operations-level responders for Technician-level Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) certification.

This 60-hour course, based on NFPA® 1072: Standard for Hazardous Materials/ Weapons of Mass Destruction Emergency Response Personnel Professional Qualifications and NFPA® 472 Standards, provides participants with HAZMAT-specific response knowledge and skills, enabling them to respond safely and effectively to a suspected incident at the hazardous materials technician level.

Participants receive hands-on training in donning and doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Levels A and B, containing leaks and drum over-packing, containing leaks in pressurized containers, and performing technical and mass decontamination.

The HMT course culminates with performance of these offensive-level tasks in an activity in which the participants apply the knowledge and skills learned in a simulated HAZMAT environment.

Graduates can take the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) exam for HAZMAT Technician certification.​

Location: 
Tri State Fire Academy 
4200 Ohio River Rd. 
Huntington, WV 25702

How to Register for the Course:​ Download the flyer​ for registration details. 

Dates:     December 3, 4: ZOOM online classes 6pm to 10pm. Students must contact instructor for online class: bob@ruzewski.com 
December 7: In-person class

Location:        1700 MacCorkle Ave. S. E., Charleston, WV ​- Outdoor portion - Kanawha State Forest​

Course Overview: Wilderness First Aid (WFA) is a 16-hour course designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively respond to medical emergencies and injuries in remote and outdoor settings. Students will learn how to assess, treat, and manage common injuries and illnesses that may occur in wilderness environments, where access to medical help is limited or delayed. This course emphasizes hands-on training, scenario-based learning, and practical application of first aid principles in challenging outdoor conditions.

WVEMD will provide Wilderness First Aid Training Materials.

Students will be responsible for transportation costs and meals.

Instructor:  Bob Ruzewski - Spot On Training, LLC

Download the fly​er ​for registration details.​​​

​​​​Questions about trainings? Contact State Training Officer brent.a.burger@wv.gov ​