Course Description BDLS® is targeted to multiple disciplines including emergency medical service (EMS) personnel, hazardous materials personnel, public health personnel, and health care providers. The goal of teaching multiple disciplines simultaneously is to develop a commonality of approach and language in the health care community, improving the care and coordination of response in Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) disasters and public health emergencies. The BDLS® course is a review of the all-hazards topics including natural and accidental man made events, traumatic and explosive events, nuclear and radiological events, biological events, and chemical events. Also included is information on the health care professional’s role in the public health and incident management systems, community mental health, and special needs of underserved and vulnerable populations. The recognition and management of the disaster scene and victims are reinforced through a unique approach, introduced in the Core Disaster Life Support Course, called the D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R paradigm. The D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R paradigm organizes the students’ preparation and response to disaster management. It emphasizes an all-hazards approach to mass casualty incident management and facilitates ongoing qualitative and quantitative assessment of an incident.
Target Audience • Physicians • Registered or licensed practical nurses • Paramedics or national intermediate EMTs • Physician assistants • Allied health professionals • Dentists • Pharmacists • Public health professionals • Veterinarians • Health professions students • Mental health professionals
Class Size BDLS® can be provided to large audiences (e.g., more than 100 participants) and is limited only by the size of the classroom
Pre-requisites: None
Course Length: 8 hours
Course Credits: 7.5 American Medical Association PRA Category 1 Credits™
