Covering exercises, training curricula, and cost-effective recommendations, this manual prepares first responders to face multiple threats from multiple sources. Applying the concept of cross-training to round out skill-sets, it prepares these diverse outfits to assist each other and overcome traditional philosophical and logistical boundaries.

Covering exercises, training curricula, and cost-effective recommendations, this manual prepares first responders to face multiple threats from multiple sources.

The communications difficulties experienced in disasters have been well-documented. The classic example in the popular mind is the inability of New York City fire and police departments to communicate with each other on Sept. 11, 2001. ... Bennett wants professional and volunteer first responders to get on the same page on these issues and more sophisticated ones as well. The National Incident Management System is making some strides in this direction, he says, but it will take some years before its effects are felt extensively. Cross-Training for First Responders explains the kind of training necessary to overcome the emergency response communications gap.-In the Natural Hazards Observer, September 2011