One of the first federally funded training efforts to prepare local first responders and in-hospital staff for possible release of a weapon of mass destruction has surfaced in Pennsylvania.

The continuing-education program “Recognition to Recovery,” based at The Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia, focuses on the premise that the health care work force is inadequately trained to address the medical consequences of a bioterrorism catastrophe.

“Our program is unique in that it is based strongly on hands-on skills and drills that the specific profession may need in a WMD response scenario,” said EMT-P Aaron Richman, program coordinator in the AEHN Office of WMD Training and Education.

Richman, who helped lead the Israel National Police response to scores of terrorist incidents in Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003, is an appropriate choice to lead the training effort. With a background in law enforcement, counterterrorism and EMS, he took part in commanding several mass-casualty terror scenes within the city of Jerusalem.

Not only is the program free, it is offered on-site. The traveling course includes an overview to the terrorism threat and hands-on training for each attendee.

The $1.9 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration is geared to help train and educate the responder as opposed to simply assisting in the purchase of new equipment.

Richman said what is needed is a standard system to train first responders in the use of equipment, as well as drills that exercise communication between emergency response agencies.

“It's not enough to just put the personal protective equipment on once,” he said.