Emergency Services Course Listing

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VFIS University offers our clients quality online education and training courses for emergency responders, many of which are recognized as meeting industry continuing education requirements, and you'll receive a certificate upon completion of each course. All courses are available online 24/7 so that you can work to be better prepared for every call, help reduce your risks for injury and loss and increase your skillsets to better support your team and community — all from the convenience of your home or work computer. Access VFIS University here .

  • Behavioral Health Concerns

    This course introduces a nine key behavioral health considerations for emergency services personnel.

    Objectives:

    • Define behavioral health and associated concerns in emergency services
    • List actions which can be taken by individuals and organizations
    • Describe common types of assistance and other resources
  • Injury Prevention

    This program discusses the causes and impacts of slips, trips and falls in emergency service operating environments.

    Objectives:

    • Define and differentiate a strain, sprain, slip, trip and fall
    • Identify the most common hazards which lead to personnel injury
    • Describe best practices to prevent personnel injury
  • Vanessa K. Free

    Driver training refresher to meet Vanessa K. Free Emergency Services Training Act.

    The Vanessa K. Free Driver Training Program on VFIS University is a free training program developed by VFIS to assist emergency services personnel comply with the Vanessa K. Free Emergency Services Training Act of 2005.Follow the instructions contained within this course to obtain the Vanessa K. Free Driver Training Program certificate of completion.

  • FASNY OSHA 2023

    FASNY OSHA Refresher for 2023.

    The FASNY OSHA Annual Refresher on VFIS University is a free training program developed by VFIS in partnership with FASNY. Follow the instructions contained within this course to obtain the FASNY OSHA Annual Refresher 2023 certificate of completion.

  • Ten Cones of Safety Video

    Discusses best operating guidelines when working on a highway incident.

    Provide personnel with knowledge to help them recognize the inherent dangers in responding to highway incidents, as well as best safety principles, strategies and practices. This video includes interviews about a fatal highway response incident and the Ten Cones of Highway Incident Safety.

  • Intersection Safety

    Discusses 8 guidelines to reduce the number and severity of intersection accidents.

    This video stresses eight guidelines that may help reduce the number and severity of intersection accidents, and is intended for ESOs responding to incidents in both department and personal vehicles.

  • Privately Owned Vehicles Video

    Designed to assist in the reduction of unsafe POV operation.

    This is a video-based program which is part of the VFIS Risk Management Video Series. The VFIS Risk Management Video Series is also available as a DVD or USB and can be ordered online at: shop.vfis.com.

  • Safe Backing Video

    Designed to assist in the reduction of damage and/or injury thru safe back best practices.

    Help reduce the risk of damage and/or injury within your organization by explaining the importance of safe vehicle backing measures and learning best practices.

  • NC Who Holds the Keys

    Discusses safe vehicle operation focused on North Carolina.

    Based upon VFIS claims data and experience across North America, the goal of this program is to increase vehicle operation safety by applying basic principles of risk management and risk control. From emergency service organization leadership to emergency vehicle operators, each member "holds the keys" to safe emergency vehicle operations. This program provides an overview of claims data in North Carolina.

  • Background Investigations

    Discusses the reasons and importance of the background checks process.

    This program discusses the reasons Fire and EMS agencies should conduct background checks and the process to be used to assure members are free from backgrounds of concern.

  • Cancer Prevention

    Best practices to reduce the exposure to carcinogens and the number of cancer cases.

    This program is intended to introduce best practices to reduce the exposure to carcinogens and ultimately the number of cancer cases among emergency services personnel.

  • Cyber Risk Assessment

    An introduction to cyber security for fire, EMS and 911 center leadership..

    This program describes the importance of a cyber risk assessment, the legal and regulatory requirements related to cyber security, risks associated with cloud and third-party vendors, significance of industry standards and frameworks and preparing and/or reassessing your cyber incident response plan.

  • Cyber Risk Awareness

    An intro to cyber security for all members and serves as annual refresher training..

    This program describes the role of all personnel related to cyber security, terms, legal and regulatory requirements, risks associated with cloud and third-party vendors, methods to safeguard against a cyber security incident and identify modern cyber threats and take action to prevent unauthorized access.

  • Drive Safe

    Hard-hitting program on personal responsibility and mindful driving of emergency vehicles.

    Drive Safe is a short, hard-hitting program on personal responsibility and mindful driving. It is suggested as mandatory training for all new personnel and serves as an excellent refresher and awareness program regarding driving safe and distracted driving impact.

  • Ergonomic Issues

    Review of engineering and admin controls to reduce slips, trips, falls and back injuries.

    Strains and sprains are the most frequent cause of fire and EMS personnel being injured in the workplace. These are considered ergonomic related injuries. This program reviews the implementation of engineering controls, administrative controls, or a combination of both to reduce back injuries.

  • Firefighter Rehab

    Overview of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for fire and EMS personnel.

    This program is intended to provide an overview of a comprehensive rehabilitation plan which is a key element to ensure responder safety, recognizing potentially lethal symptoms early.

  • Hazard Communications

    Overview of the hazard communication standard and its application to fire and EMS.

    This program describes the Hazard Communication Standard and its implications for emergency services, workplace labeling and requirements, types of hazards by labels and sections of safety data sheets.

  • HIPAA Compliance Training for Healthcare Workers

    HIPAA requires the implementation of administrative, physical and technical safeguards to address the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Protected Health Information (PHI). This training provides an overview of the HIPAA law and the role healthcare workers play in maintaining HIPAA compliance. This course can be used for new employee orientation and as a refresher training for healthcare staff.

  • Incident Investigation

    Discusses why and how to conduct and incident investigation.

    This program provides the background on why to conduct incident investigations and how to conduct an incident investigation. Describe the need for an attitude of prevention, the importance of incident investigation procedures, Forms are provided for use within the VFIS File Center.

  • Infectious Disease BBP

    Annual refresher training for bloodborne pathogens and communicable disease.

    This program provides the content and guidance for meeting the annual refresher training requirements for Bloodborne Pathogen and Communicable Disease for emergency service personnel.

  • Leadership

    Discusses leadership and shares different perspectives and applicable situations.

    This program is designed for future leaders, or current leaders. The session provides a discussion on the concept of leadership in the emergency services, introducing several different perspectives and applicable situations involving leadership, and allows the participant to consider tools and techniques for individual application.

  • Sexual Abuse and Misconduct

    Discusses child sexual abuse and ways to help prevent it in the fire and EMS workplace.

    This program takes an honest look at child sexual abuse in a variety of settings that provide services to children and teenagers, including fire/EMS agencies. This session offers considerations to help prevent child sexual abuse.

  • Lock Out Tag Out

    Best operating practices related to removing energy from equipment.

    This program applies to firefighter involvement with equipment and circumstances in which the unexpected energization or start up or release of stored energy could cause injury to firefighters or civilians.

  • Managing Financial Systems

    Reivews financial management best operating practices for fire and EMS assets .

    Managing Fire and EMS Agency Financial Systems is an important aspect of leading an organization in the 21st century. Thefts, embezzlement or similar loss situations create not only a financial challenge for the organization, but presents a negative image in the community. This program reviews the financial management issues that need to be well managed with emphasis on implementing specific systems providing checks and balances for managing funds.

  • Patient Handling

    This program is intended to provide an overview of proper patient handling techniques..

    This session discusses the needed resources, patient lifting and handling as well as transport of bariatric patients, to prevent emergency responders putting the patients, themselves and others at risk of injury.

  • Personal Protective Equipment

    Annual refresher on the inspection, maintenance, and selection and use of common PPE.

    A wide variety of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be used by emergency services personnel to protect themselves when performing hazardous tasks on an incident scene or around the station. This program serves as an orientation and annual refresher for proper inspection, maintenance, selection and use of common emergency services PPE.

  • POV Answering Call Safely

    Discusses proper training and best operating practices for POV operation .

    This program is designed to aid in the national effort to reduce privately owned vehicle (POV) crashes. VFIS has designed this program to help emergency services organizations provide proper training and develop standard operating guidelines to help reduce the risk associated with driving POVs.

  • Reputation Management

    Disucsses how an ESO can maintain a positive reputation and mitigate the related risk.

    This program discusses the importance of maintaining a positive reputation as an emergency services organization. An organization must effectively prevent and mitigate reputational risk. Effective reputational risk management will enable public trust to be maintained.

  • Safety Culture

    Discusses risk assessment methods to efficiently manage and communicate the safety message.

    This program defines what a safety culture is and a series of key points to help understand culture as it relates to safety, the importance of a risk assessment, methods to effectively manage and communicate change, and possible barriers to change.

  • Seat Belt Safety

    A contributing factor in LODD from vehicle operation is lack of seat belt use.

    VFIS believes strongly in the use of seat belts and supports the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation "Seat Belt Pledge". This program reinforces the importance of seat belts in emergency services.

  • Sexual Harassment Prevention

    Discusses preventive practices related to sexual harassment to manage the risk to the org.

    This program discusses issues and concerns regarding sexual harassment and preventive practices to manage your organization's risk. The program provides annual refresher content.

  • Social Media

    Discusses issues, concerns, and necessary actions to manage social media.

    Social media has increased the opportunity for emergency service organizations and its members to communicate. These communication opportunities create potential management challenges and related liabilities if there are no controls in place. This program will discuss the issues, concerns, and necessary actions to manage social media in an emergency services organization.

  • Station Safety

    Station safety best practices for people, vehicle, tools and equipment, and facilities.

    This program is intended to provide guidance for the best practices in station safety for the protection of (1) people, (2) vehicles, (3) tools & equipment, & (4) facilities.

  • 10 Keys for Safe Vehicle Ops

    This VFIS University course focuses on key issues affecting safe vehicle operations.

    This program discusses "Ten Key Issues Affecting Safe Vehicle Operations" based upon research and experience of VFIS in insuring emergency service vehicles and conducting vehicle safe driving research and training for more than 50 years.

  • Respectful Workplace Employee

    Harassment prevention training for staff.

    This program defines what harassment is, gives examples of desirable behaviors and what crosses the line, and identifies the channels for reporting harassing behavior. This program is intended for all personnel within an organization.

  • Respectful Workplace Supervisor

    Harassment prevention training for supervisors.

    This program defines what harassment is, gives examples of desirable behaviors and what crosses the line, and identifies the channels for reporting harassing behavior. This program is intended for management personnel within an organization.

  • Tool and Equipment Safety

    The participant will learn to ID, inspect, maintain, and safely use common tools.

    This program is designed to familiarize personnel with the safety considerations for the identification, inspection, maintenance and use of common tools and equipment. Personnel are encouraged to understand the ten components of tool and equipment safety for all tools and equipment they may be expected to use. This program also serves as a basic introduction to fire extinguisher use.

  • Who Holds the Keys to Safe Emergency Vehicle Operations

    Every member "holds the keys" to safe emergency vehicle operation.

    The goal of this program is to increase vehicle operation safety by applying basic principles of risk management and risk control. From emergency service organization leadership to emergency vehicle operators, each member "holds the keys" to safe emergency vehicle operations.

  • Workplace Violence

    Discusses awareness, prevention techniques, and actions necessary when events occur..

    This program discusses an operational overview designed for the participant to gain a better understanding of the awareness of the workplace violence issue, prevention techniques, and actions necessary when events occur.

Client Risk Solutions Course Listing

VFIS University offers our clients 24/7 access to valuable education and training courses designed to educate staff, test their understanding and reduce the risks you face in your daily operations. Search our catalog for general training programs or courses unique to your operations.

General Risks

  • Property Self-Inspections

    This 14-minute video provides a basic overview of the components of an effective self-inspection plan for buildings and grounds.

    Objectives:

    • Understand the importance of self-inspections
    • Identify the most common areas in and around properties where people are injured or property is damaged
    • Identify unique exposures that may exist on your property
    • Learn what to look for when inspecting a building's mechanical and protection systems
  • Enterprise Risk Management

    This four-part course provides a basic overview of the components of an effective Enterprise Risk Management plan.

    Topics:

    • Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management - 20 minutes
    • Establishing the Context - 17 minutes
    • Risk Assessment - 13 minutes
    • Risk Treatment - 10 minutes

Driver and Vehicle Safety

  • Who Holds the Keys to Safe Emergency Vehicle Operations

    Every member "holds the keys" to safe emergency vehicle operation.

    The goal of this program is to increase vehicle operation safety by applying basic principles of risk management and risk control. From emergency service organization leadership to emergency vehicle operators, each member "holds the keys" to safe emergency vehicle operations.

  • Distracted Driving - Put Cell Phones Away!

    This 9-minute video discusses the risks of distracted driving and some steps employers should take to manage the exposure.

  • Drive Safe

    This 11-minute video describes the hazards of distracted driving and steps that an individual can take to be a more mindful and defensive driver.
  • School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    This 8-part NHTSA In-Service Safety Series discusses issues that should be of concern to school bus drivers in their efforts to safely transport passengers.
  • Transporting Students with Special Needs - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    47 minutes - This module discusses the transportation of students with special needs, including what to know about the students, the kinds of disabilities and behaviors of these students, the types of equipment involved, and proper loading and unloading.
  • Highway Rail Grade Crossing - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    13 minutes - This module describes the potential dangers at highway-rail grade crossings and explains the appropriate procedures to make such a crossing safely.
  • Vehicle Training - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    10 minutes - This module describes what handling characteristics school bus drivers must learn about each bus, correct adjustment of mirrors, and use of the mirrors.
  • Loading and Unloading - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    17 minutes - This module discusses danger zones, what they are and why they're important, and describes ways to keep track of students in the danger zones.
  • Driver Attitude - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    7 minutes - This module discusses the impact of the school bus drivers' attitude on the way they drive and handle the bus, how the students behave and how the drivers feel about the job, and describes what bus drivers can do to help reduce stress on the job.
  • Know Your Route - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    5 minutes - This module identifies the potential driving hazards on regular routes, describes what drivers can do to eliminate, avoid, or deal with those hazards, and explains what to do for unfamiliar routes.
  • Emergency Evacuation of School Busses - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    10 minutes - This module discusses evacuations of school buses, including when to evacuate and how to evacuate, and provides training of evacuation practices for non-regular riders.
  • Student Management - School Bus Driver In-Service Safety Series

    9 minutes - This module explains the importance of keeping control of student behavior and describes ways to maintain acceptable student behavior on the bus.
  • Personnel Management

    • GIG: Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Training for Employees

      This 20-minute training educates front-line workers about workplace harassment and the role they share in maintaining a respectful workplace.

      All individuals have the right to fair and equal employment opportunities, which includes a harassment-free work environment.
      The course discusses the following:

      • Preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting harassment
      • What constitutes Harassment
      • Protected classes
      • Severe and pervasive conduct
      • Quid pro quo
      • Hostile work environment
      • Interviews with subject matter experts
      • Case scenarios
    • GIG: Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Training for Managers

      This 20-minute training educates leadership about workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation, and the role leadership shares in creating and maintaining a respectful workplace.

      Every organization has a responsibility to protect their employees from harassment and to create a respectful work environment.
      The course discusses the following:

      • Definitions of Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation
      • Overview of Federal laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
      • Management's ethical and legal obligations to investigate and take steps to stop workplace harassment, discrimination, and retaliation
      • Reasonable accommodations
      • Interviews with subject matter experts
      • Case scenarios
    • Rightful Terminations

      This 10-minute video offers insight into some common mistakes that organizations can make when terminating a working relationship and identifies some considerations for determining and conducting rightful terminations.
    • Retaliation Claims

      This 10-minute video explains what constitutes retaliation and provides guidance on how to best prepare organizations before a personnel complaint is made, during the investigative process, and after the perceived resolution of the personnel dispute.
    • Fidelity - Where did all the money go?

      This 12-minute video discusses the issues, concerns, and best practices related to managing financial systems within an organization.

    Worker Safety

    • Safety Talk: Winter Driving

      4 minutes - Driver safety during adverse weather events requires a proactive approach that encompasses preparedness, defensive driving techniques, and adaptability. Help ensure road safety with these risk reduction techniques.
    • Safety Talk: Heat Exhaustion

      6 minutes - If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to Heat Stroke, a life-threatening condition. Understand your risk factors, know the signs and treatments for heat exhaustion and implement prevention strategies to help you stay cool during hot weather.
    • Safety Talk: Digital Eyestrain

      3 minutes - Extended use of digital devices and screens is one of the most common sources of eyestrain. Help keep your eyes healthy and boost productivity and overall wellness with these simple work environment changes.

    Schools

    • 12 Playground Safety Hazards

      This 18-minute video discusses 12 safety hazards commonly found on playgrounds, how these hazards can and have caused injury, and how to identify these hazards when inspecting a public playground.
    • Let's Talk: Preventing Child Abuse in Your Organization

      This 22-minute video looks at child sexual abuse and ways to help prevent it.

      The course discusses the following:

      • Specific behaviors you can take to protect yourself, your organization and the children you serve
      • Environmental adjustments that can be made to increase surveillance and transparency when working with youth
      • Ways to increase awareness of behaviors that indicate another individual may be an abuser

    Healthcare

    • Zero Tolerance: Abuse Prevention and Reporting

      The focus of this 23-minute video for healthcare workers is on recognizing abuse, documenting your findings, and reporting to the appropriate authorities.

      This video provides a thorough review of all types of abuse that may be identified, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, abandonment and self-neglect. The video includes candid interviews with healthcare workers who have identified abuse in their work experience and how they handled those situations.

    • Documentation - It's not bigger than you.

      This 12-minute training video provides some helpful tips to caregivers on how to improve documentation skills.
    • Careful Safety Investigations

      This 12-minute video provides instruction to caregivers on how to recognize, reduce, and report safety hazards in the home care setting.
    • HIPAA Compliance Training for Healthcare Workers

      This 10-minute video provides an overview of the HIPAA law and the role healthcare workers play in maintaining HIPAA compliance. This course can be used for new employee orientation and as a refresher training for healthcare staff.
    • Patient Transfer Safety

      This 12-minute program discusses the responsibility of healthcare workers to protect patients from falls, specifically when conducting patient transfers, and provides steps to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers during this process.

    Law Enforcement

    • Roll Call Reminders

      Roll Call Reminders are 2- to 5-minute videos that may be used during staff meetings to generate a dialogue between law enforcement supervisors and patrol officers.
    • Distracted Driving

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the dangers of distracted driving and ways to help reduce the associated risks.
    • Driving and Spatial Awareness

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the need for spatial awareness while operating an emergency vehicle/patrol car.
    • Drowsy Driving

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the dangers of drowsy driving and ways to help reduce the associated risks.
    • Following Distance

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses officer safety when following other vehicles too closely.
    • Navigating Intersections

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the importance of navigating intersections along with some helpful reminders.
    • Pre and Post-Operational Patrol Vehicle Checks

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the importance of performing squad car checks at the beginning and the end of every shift.
    • Pursuit Driving

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses safe practices before engaging in a motor vehicle pursuit.
    • Safe Backing Practices

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the hazards faced while backing up a vehicle.
    • Scanning the Road

      This Roll Call Reminder discusses the importance of scanning the road while driving.
    • Speeding

      This Roll Call Reminder talks about driving above the speed limit.