This awareness-level course educates rural emergency responders on freight rail car incidents involving hazardous materials. Participants learn the potential hazards at a train derailment, properties of specific chemicals, and various incident control, confinement and containment techniques. In addition, participants learn damage assessment strategies to help interpret damage to rail cars in the event of an incident.

Upon completion of the course, participants (which typically include fire service, emergency medical services, law enforcement, emergency management, public safety planners and private rail companies) should be better prepared to respond to a freight rail car incident without endangering the health and safety of the responders and the environment.