The Department of Homeland Security has announced the U.S. Fire Administration's Emergency Management Institute is providing a new Independent Study series general introduction to hazardous materials course online that can serve as a foundation for more specific studies in the future.

Independent Study (IS 5) is an Introduction to Hazardous Materials, is now available.  IS 5 is an "Awareness" level course.

"Concerned community members who want to learn more about such issues can help protect their own health and that of their community - as well as ensuring that local, state, tribal and federal emergency preparedness efforts are in place for dealing with hazardous materials incidents -whether
they be accidental or the work of terrorists," said Mike Brown, undersecretary for DHS Emergency Preparedness and Response..