Hostile Environment and First Aid Training
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Hostile Environment and First Aid Training

HEFAT trains journalists in safety, trauma aid, conflict awareness, digital security, and resilience for high-risk reporting worldwide.

By Crisis Ready Media

Date and time

Location

Claggett Center

3035 Buckeystown Pike Adamstown, MD 21710

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 30 days before event.

Agenda

Pre-Deployment Strategies and Planning

Covers mission planning, health prep, gear checks, and security assessments using the PETE method (People, Environment, Task, Equipment). Encourages deliberate preparation.

Evacuation Planning & Checkpoint Navigation

Provides instructions on building evacuation routes, identifying checkpoint hazards, and using low-profile navigation strategies in domestic and international settings.

Risk Assessment and Situational Awareness

Introduces situational awareness models like OODA Loop, Left of Bang, and threat mapping. Teaches how to identify evolving threats and adapt in real time.

Active Shooter Situations

Offers best practices for identifying danger signs, responding to an active shooter threat, and coordinating with team members while minimizing exposure.

Mass Shootings in the United States

Analyzes recent case studies to prepare journalists for mass casualty events. Covers safety positioning, movement tactics, and psychological aftercare.

Civil Unrest, Protest, and Violence

Reviews dynamics of protests, including transitions to riot situations. Covers situational awareness, gear selection, legal considerations, and de-escalation strategies.

Indirect Fire Hazards (Mortars, Rockets, Landmines, Grenades)

Details the function, deployment, and indicators of explosive threats. Teaches hazard zones, cover/concealment, and behavioral responses.

Movement, Emergency Reactions, and Blending Techniques

Instructs on tactical movement in urban and rural environments, use of cover/concealment, and blending in with local populations to reduce visibility as a target.

Natural Disasters

Prepares journalists to cover events like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Discusses hazards, first aid implications, and survival planning.

Kidnap Survival and Captivity Psychology

Teaches survival mindset, compliance strategies, and psychological endurance during captivity. Emphasizes behaviors that increase the chance of survival and recovery.

Gender and Identity Risk in Hostile Environments

Examines how gender identity, expression, and perceived affiliation can increase risk. Discusses mitigation strategies and personal boundary setting.

Personal Protective Gear (Helmet, Eye Protection, Body Armor)

Reviews types of gear used in hostile environments. Discusses selection, fit, limitations, and the ethical implications of using PRESS-marked equipment.

Global Threat Environment Overview

Provides a macro-level understanding of geopolitical risks, regional conflict zones, and how to assess the evolving threat landscape for journalism assignments.

Verbal De-escalation Techniques

Introduces communication strategies to defuse confrontation. Incorporates the Four Animal Model to assess conflict behavior and guide safe interaction.

Psychological First Aid (Listen, Protect, Connect)

Introduces a three-phase model to support peers experiencing acute psychological stress. Emphasizes empathy, protection from further harm, and connection to long-term support.

Post-Traumatic Stress in Journalism

Explores the nature and signs of PTSD, its effects on journalists, and how to recognize, address, and support mental health in newsrooms and field teams.

Psychosocial Resilience and Self-Preservation Techniques

Provides strategies for building personal resilience, coping with trauma, and managing long-term stress associated with high-risk journalism.

First Aid, Chest Injuries & Airway Compromise

Covers recognition and management of chest wounds, including open pneumothorax, tension pneumothorax, and compromised airways. Emphasizes life-saving interventions like seal application and airway po...

First Aid, CPR, AED, and Shock Management

Introduces basic CPR techniques, use of AEDs in the field, and rapid recognition of shock symptoms. Addresses circulatory collapse and basic field interventions to stabilize patients.

First Aid, Managing Fractures, Burns, Blast Trauma, and Concussions

Discusses the field management of traumatic injuries, including splinting fractures, treating burns, responding to blast injuries, and assessing concussions.

First Aid, Hygiene and Disease Prevention

Outlines best practices for personal hygiene and disease prevention in the field, including hand hygiene, waste management, and strategies to reduce exposure to pathogens.

First Aid, Field Sanitation

Teaches environmental cleanliness and water/food safety techniques to prevent illness and maintain operational capacity in austere environments.

First Aid, Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) Use and Deployment

Breaks down IFAK components, proper packing, and how to rapidly deploy tools for hemorrhage control, airway support, and basic trauma care.

First Aid, Indirect Fire Injuries

Addresses wound patterns and first aid strategies related to mortars, rockets, grenades, and other indirect fire sources. Introduces blast injury triage priorities.

About this event

  • Event lasts 4 days 8 hours

Crisis Ready Media, Hostile Environment and First Aid Training

The Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) course is an intensive, five day program designed to prepare journalists and media professionals for assignments the high-risk and hazardous environments we face everyday, in the United States and around the world. Combining classroom instruction with immersive, scenario-based field exercises, the course covers core topics including situational awareness, conflict zone navigation, trauma first aid, detention survival, digital security, and psychological resilience. Participants learn to recognize threats, respond to emergencies, and operate safely in volatile settings, all while maintaining journalistic integrity and mission focus. The curriculum is guided by international safety standards and tailored to the unique challenges faced by journalists working globally.

Topics Covered in the Global HEFAT Curriculum:

  • Situational awareness and risk assessment
  • Operating in conflict zones and non-permissive environments
  • Tactical movement and cover techniques
  • Kidnap avoidance and detention survival
  • Trauma first aid and emergency casualty care (including Stop the Bleed)
  • Managing injuries: fractures, burns, blast trauma, and concussions
  • Mental wellness and stress management in high-risk settings
  • Digital security and communications in hostile environments
  • Navigation and field movement without GPS
  • Dealing with checkpoints, border crossings, and hostile actors
  • Working in the aftermath of natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes, floods)
  • Vehicle safety and ambush survival
  • Crowd dynamics and civil unrest response
  • Gender-specific risks and field safety for women journalists
  • Ethical and legal considerations in conflict reporting
  • Resilience, debriefing, and peer support after trauma

This course is essential for journalists working both domestically and abroad because it provides the critical skills needed to navigate today’s increasingly unpredictable and high-risk reporting environments. Whether covering conflict zones, natural disasters, civil unrest, or public health crises, journalists face real physical, psychological, and digital threats. The Global HEFAT course equips them with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to stay safe, make informed decisions under pressure, and continue reporting with integrity and resilience.

Your $1,700 tax deductible contribution covers all expenses associated with the HEFAT course, ensuring a fully inclusive and immersive training experience. This fee includes comprehensive instruction led by expert trainers, hands-on field exercises, comfortable lodging for the duration of the course, and all meals provided on-site. Participants can focus entirely on building critical safety and survival skills without the worry of additional costs or logistics.

During the course of this training, participants should be aware that pyrotechnics and other realistic simulators may be used to enhance the authenticity and effectiveness of the learning experience. These elements are carefully controlled and designed to replicate the stress and confusion of hostile environments in a safe, instructional setting. The training will be rigorous, both mentally and physically, and participants are strongly encouraged to engage fully within their personal comfort levels and physical abilities. Our instructors are committed to supporting each individual’s learning while ensuring safety and respect throughout the training.

The training will be held in Frederick, Maryland. A shuttle bus will be provided from Dullas Airport the evening prior to the start of training.

Frequently asked questions

Who should attend the HEFAT course?

The course is designed specifically for journalists, media professionals, freelancers, and journalism students who may face high-risk assignments or hazardous environments in their work.

What topics does the HEFAT course cover?

The course includes situational awareness, conflict-zone navigation, trauma first aid, detention and kidnapping survival, digital security, emotional resilience, and ethical considerations while working in volatile environments.

How long is the HEFAT course?

The course is an intensive five-day program combining classroom instruction and practical, scenario-based exercises.

Do participants receive certification after completing the course?

Yes. Participants receive a certificate of completion acknowledging they've completed the HEFAT training to international safety standards.

Is prior first aid experience required to participate?

No previous experience is required. The course teaches trauma first aid from foundational skills to advanced interventions appropriate for field conditions.

How physically demanding is the HEFAT course?

The course includes practical, scenario-based exercises that require moderate physical activity. However, we accommodate varying levels of fitness and ability to ensure all participants benefit fully.

Can I attend the course remotely or online?

Because HEFAT emphasizes hands-on skill-building and realistic scenario training, it is offered exclusively as an in-person course.

How can I sponsor or financially support a journalist to attend HEFAT?

Donations to Crisis Ready Media directly fund scholarships and sponsorships for journalists in need. Visit our donation page or contact us directly to learn how you can help.

Organized by

Crisis Ready Media

Crisis Ready Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to journalist safety and preparedness. We provide specialized training and resources to equip journalists with essential skills to safely navigate hostile environments, emergencies, and high-risk assignments worldwide.

$1,815.87
Oct 6 · 8:00 AM EDT