DSC 1222 - Psychological Management of Weapons Of Mass Destruction Victims

College of Public Safety Administration

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2026 (670)

Course Description

This course introduces participants to a general overview of terrorism and the potential psychological effect of terrorist events on victims. It will also provide emergency responders with appropriate skills to use at the terrorist scenes to mitigate the psychological impact on the victims. The course will address the effects of terrorist events on the emergency responders themselves and offer specific techniques that the responders can use in responding to victims and other responders.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will describe what terrorism is and the psychological impact of a terrorist event by:
    1. defining terrorism.
    2. explaining the psychological impact of terrorism.
    3. listing factors affecting psychological impact of terrorism.
  2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the three phases of a terrorist event: pre-attack phase; crisis management phase; consequence management and reconstruction phase by:
    1. defining stressor, stress response and eustress.
    2. defining the three phases of the terrorist event.
    3. describing the actions to be taken during the crisis management phase.
  3. The student will demonstrate the secondary trauma/vicarious traumatization and disaster recovery phases by:
    1. defining secondary trauma/vicarious traumatization.
    2. explaining the disaster recovery phases.
    3. describing the signs of trauma.
    4. explaining the techniques to enhance the ability to manage stress during an event.
    5. describing the techniques to reduce the impact after an event.
  4. The student will describe the techniques to interact with victims in crisis and identify national, state and local resources for primary victim referrals by:
    1. identifying how to interact with victims in crisis.
    2. identifying national, state and local resources for primary victim referral.
    3. explaining coping strategies for emergency responders.
    4. identifying the steps to assist other responders.
    5. demonstrating good communication techniques.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

C&I 3/8/05, BOT 4/19/05, Effective 20051(0355). (Submitted as 1211; State assigned new number). 3 Year Review 2008. C&I Approval: 03/08/2005, BOT Approval: 04/19/2005, Effective Term: Fall 2005 (355).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2026 (670)

Related Programs

  1. Homeland Security (HLS-CT) (625) (Active)
  2. Homeland Security and Emergency Management (EAM-AS) (640) (Active)
  3. Public Safety Administration (PSA-TR) (670) (Active)