​This course addresses specific fundamentals and skills associated with an emergency response to a WMD incident. As such, it provides detailed technical information and includes hands-on practice of actions required of emergency responders in such situations.

Participants are provided the opportunity to perform public safety sampling techniques required in the response to a WMD event. Of special interest is the course’s emphasis on collecting forensically valid samples, which is accomplished through maintaining a secure chain-of-custody for the sample from the time of collection through laboratory analysis. This process is consistent with the FBI 12-step process for managing a crime scene, including those involving a WMD.​