Excerpted from ENN Daily Report - 01/01/97 - Vol. 3, No. 001

ERRI Announces New On-Line Training Facility For Military/Emergency Personnel
By Paul Anderson, ENN Metro Correspondent

CHICAGO (ENN) - The Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI) today announced the development of a "first of it's kind" training program for emergency service and military personnel. The new program will combine ERRI's well-known world-wide-web presence with its world renowned editorial advisory board to present new training and continuing education opportunities for fire/police/ems/disaster/military personnel. Guest lecturers and international experts will also be invited to assist in the presentation of given educational modules.

According to Clark Staten, ERRI Executive Director, the innovative program is still in its developmental stage, but Staten says that he expects at least some of the initial program modules to be on-line and available for review and participation by the end of the 1st quarter of 1997. Staten said that the educational offerings will use the World-Wide- Web's multi-media capabilities to make the instruction modules both entertaining and easy for responders to use.

Staten, a retired Asst. Chief paramedic and former training officer, said, "One of the programs greatest assets is that it can accessed from anywhere in the world over the Internet, and even members of smaller emergency service departments or military units stationed in other countries will be able to receive the most up-to-date training topics in a timely and effective manner." The program might also be most beneficial to those at those working at isolated sites, such as on oil platforms, allowing them to participate in relevant and effective training on a laptop or desktop computer.

"Taken to its ultimate conclusion, both training and pre/post course evaluations could be piped directly into almost any location with a modem and computer and continuing education could take place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," Staten added. "Best of all, emergency and military administrators will be happy to hear that this concept is one the most cost effective alternatives that we have found to traditional training methods," he continued. "Finally, it will also include a unique opportunity for volunteers and those that don't get to attend national or international conferences and seminars to interact with world-class instructors via e-mail or live in a chat session," Staten concluded.

Additional future plans by ERRI also include the use of (optional) related textbooks, lesson plans, drill recommendations, reference materials, and the possibility of accreditation that could allow automated tracking and granting of continuing education credits. Negotiations are reportedly currently underway with several colleges and traditional accreditation agencies, to obtain authorization to grant "certificates of completion" and even CME credits.

For additional information about this innovative program or to learn more about remote interactive learning, please contact ERRI at:

Emergency Response & Research Institute
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave., #312 Chicago, IL. 60646
(773) 631-3774 - Voice
(773) 631-4703 - Fax
(773) 631-3467 - Modem/Emergency BBS On-Line
http://www.emergency.com - Website
enn@emergency.com - E-mail

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