Sign up in SLCC course to Learn to Communicate Effectively in a Crisis

Utah National Guard helping flood victims

Why: Control and effective communications are a must as police and other first responders sometimes face hostile and irrational opposition. Participate in a course and learn practical skills in communicating effectively in crisis situations.

What: Salt Lake Community College is offering an online course HSEM-1420 Emergency Communications Management as part of its Homeland Security and Emergency Management program.

Who: Designed to help first responders (police, fire, EMS, National Guard) communicate better in crises or disaster situations, it is also beneficial for anyone interested in working in public safety, counterterrorism, emergency management, and humanitarian service and disaster response.

When: HSEM -1420 is offered online beginning in January 2016 for 16 weeks.

Where: Gain lifesaving information and practical experience through online interactive education, as part of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management program at Salt Lake Community College.

How: Contact Joseph Anderson, HSEM director at Joseph.Anderson@slcc.edu or call 801-957-4073 for Enrollment Help. You can also leave your information in the comment section below.  It won’t be made public.

Content:
The course includes information and experiential training on the following topics:

• Why and when we fail to communicate
• Essential communications skills for responders and public safety personnel
• How to communicate effectively between agencies: Communication interoperability
• Skills required to be a Public Information Officer (PIO)
• Deal with the broadcast and print media
• Developing interview skills for radio or television
• Writing effective press releases
• Handling media questions and managing the press conference
• Using social media in disasters
• Planning effective communications for business and the public sector
• Risk and crisis communications
• How to make bad communications better: Case studies in crisis communications

The instructor, Dr. John Fisher, has worked in public affairs and the media and has trained and taught crisis communication for public safety and disaster response personnel for almost 10 years. Contact John at 208 227 6229.

About HSEM: 
The Homeland Security Emergency Management (HSEM) Associate of Applied Science degree was created to prepare graduates for professional roles in the multi-agency, multi-disciplinary, collaborative world of managing our nation’s security, disaster preparedness and response. This is a growing field that is characterized by the need for professionals to prepare for and react to scenarios such as the terror attacks of 9/11 and hurricane Katrina. Recent incidents in Utah like the Herriman fire, Trolley Square and Grand America shootings, and numerous floods are examples of local incidents that require HSEM personnel to reduce the loss of life, property and critical infrastructure.

• Earn an AAS Degree in as little as 18 months or 4 semesters (day and evening classes are available)
• Learn and/or improve skills for responding to both man-made and natural disasters using the "All Hazards Approach"
• Develop a multiple-discipline, multi-agency approach to the protection of Utah's citizens, property and critical infrastructure
• Transfer your AAS degree to Utah Valley University's Bachelor of Science in Emergency Service Administration degree program through our full articulation agreement. 

For more information, go to: http://www.slcc.edu/homelandsecurity/