The Emergency Planning and Response Sciences (EPRS) pathway is designed to provide students with a rigorous course of study that prepares them for careers in the highly competitive fields of emergency planning, response, and recovery while simultaneously providing the public safety community with foundationally trained, educated, and experienced individuals prepared for initial entry into public safety careers or related post-secondary education institutions.
EPRS is a Career Technical Education Program approved Florida Department of Education Program and is administered by the Winter Park NJROTC Department. This program consists of four segments of instruction over the course of four years, providing students with the opportunity to earn nine industry-related certifications. EPRS students will also have the opportunity to observe, support, and participate in public safety-related activities with our public safety industry partners. The program's Explorer-Community Emergency Response Team (E-CERT) is provided as an extracurricular adjunct for Cadets seeking additional challenges, more advanced training and education, and technical/ leadership experiences.
EPRS-1 Emergency Planning and Response Sciences 1
This course is designed to develop competencies in first responder situations such as basic emergency planning, concepts of public safety, communication skills and provide students with an introduction to career opportunities in emergency planning and response-related careers. Students will also gain an understanding of community-based organizations and their role during emergencies and disasters.
Industry Certifications offered in EPRS-1
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Federal Emergency Management Agency Community Emergency Response Team- Basic
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American Red Cross CPR/ AED/ Basic First Aid (Adult and Pediatric)
EPRS-2 Emergency Planning and Response Sciences 2
This course will educate students on emergency management and leadership concepts. Students will become familiar with the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System related to Homeland Security, as well as how the Critical Infrastructure Protection process is used to provide security to people, physical entries, and cyber systems. Students will become familiar with law and ethics relating to first responders, emergency and disaster communication, hazardous materials identification, decontamination, and treatment protocols.
Cadets will be educated on general responsibilities, and equipment needed by individuals participating in a search and rescue (SAR) mission. This course is recommended as a foundation for all SAR environments. ISAR is the foundation course that prepares students for higher level NASAR courses for training emergency personnel. It provides a common starting point for an individual new to SAR and provides continuity during SAR operations and training of all team members.
During the medical portion of this course, students will be educated and trained on the knowledge and skills needed to recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies. The course modules in this program teach participants the knowledge and skills needed to give immediate care to an injured or ill person and to determine the need for advanced life support. This course will also provide a foundation of first aid principles and skills to respond to emergencies and provide care in austere areas without immediate access to emergency medical services (EMS) response.
Industry Certifications offered in EPRS-2
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American Red Cross Response to Emergencies (RTE)
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National Association of Search and Rescue Wilderness First Aid
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National Association of Search and Rescue SAR Technician III
EPRS-3 Emergency Planning and Response Sciences 3
This course will educate and train students on Search and Rescue field operations, environmental contamination and response, and environmental considerations such as weather, oceanography, and geo-sciences, and the role of these sciences in natural disasters. Students will also learn what roles the Department of Defense fulfills during emergencies and disasters. Terrorism awareness, as it relates to first responders, is also covered in this course.
The medical portion of this course provides participants with the knowledge and skills they need to assess, recognize and care for patients who are experiencing respiratory arrest or respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, airway obstruction, opioid overdose or other life-threatening injury or illness. When a patient experiences a life-threatening emergency, healthcare providers need to act swiftly and promptly. The course emphasizes providing high-quality care and integrating psychomotor skills with critical thinking and problem solving to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. This course will also provide the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care in a breathing emergency using breathing devices, including resuscitation masks, bag-valve mask resuscitators (BVM’s) and emergency oxygen.
Industry Certifications offered in EPRS-2
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American Red Cross Basic Life Support
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American Red Cross Administering Emergency Oxygen
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National Association of Search and Rescue SAR Technician II
EPRS-4 Emergency Planning and Response Sciences 4 (Senior Seminar)
This course is the final course in the EPRS program and is designed to focus on developing emergency response leadership and management skills, as well as research and development on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and ground asset employment in relation to emergency response operations. Other post-secondary education topics will be covered during this course, including but not limited to: Curriculum vitae/ resume development, personal finance management, and related life skills. An emergency planning and response capstone project will be chosen, developed, and completed, with the assistance of the course instructors, during this course.
* In order to give the Seniors in the SY 2023-2024 cohort an opportunity to earn industry certifications that were not offered in SY 2022-2023, this year’s course will also include the 8602030 Emergency Planning and Response 3 curriculum.