Course Orientation
FES4224
Course Orientation
Welcome to the Course
In the orientation, we will learn the course delivery method using the Canvas Learning Management System. In addition to understanding the scope of the class, you will also meet your fellow classmates in the Introductory Forum. Finally, you will be introduced to the course syllabus, online assignments, and forum discussions.
Key Course Elements
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Distinguish the categories of incidents that lead to mass casualties.
- Appraise the ability to calculate levels of risk and severity for potential incidents.
- Determine the process to develop contingency plans for mass casualty incidents.
- Appraise the nation’s emergency medical systems and their resources.
- Evaluate the ability of communities to conduct EMS capability assessments.
- Formulate a process to access additional EMS resources via the comprehensive emergency management plan.
- Interpret the powers and functions of public health officers at the local, state, and Federal levels.
As the opening course in the FES Bachelor of Science degree program, FES 4224 introduces all six of the SLOs identified for the degree.
- Identify and evaluate organizational problems associated with Fire and Emergency Services.
- Identify and demonstrate proper knowledge and use of comprehensive emergency management/command and control skills in major catastrophic incidents in fire and emergency services.
- Illustrate knowledge and legal application of safety, health, and environmental regulations at state and federal levels.
- Demonstrate effective leadership behavior and skills in fire and emergency services.
- Properly address issues of management, code regulations, and the labor market in fire and emergency services.
- Demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills for leadership in fire and emergency services.
Teaching Philosophy
I am looking for students to demonstrate a working knowledge of the subject. You need to be creative when you complete your assignments but maintain a professional appearance of your work. Your work needs to be completed in such a manner that someone can pick up your document and understand what you are trying to convey. And most of all, your work needs to be supported with research and cited properly in APA format.
Instructional Methods
The course is designed for individual and group interactivity. It is important to post and respond to discussion questions in the course within the time frame allotted. This provides a learning environment by networking with other students in the course. The assignments are individual based to give you the opportunity to do a variety of activities, in many cases, similar to what you will be doing in your role as a leader in the emergency services profession.
Online (Canvas)
E-learning uses a combination of texts, writings by the instructor and other experts, provided resources, the University of Florida Library, and the Internet. The student must complete the homework assignments, participate in the discussion activities, respond to at least 2 other student postings, which are assigned to each lesson, and write a research paper/applied final.
Your Personal & Professional Experiences
Many students have practical and/or personal experience in many of the areas we will cover in the course. I encourage students to share their experiences in the course discussions. I also encourage students to relate any personal or professional experiences they have on any of the topics we will cover during the course.
The grade is based on a point system. Refer to the rubric assigned to each discussion post/assignment/final project for complete details on how the discussion post/assignment/final project will be graded. Grading will occur as soon as possible; however, it should be noted that grading may take up to two weeks depending on the course load placed on the instructor as well as other university obligations (e.g., Travel, Conferences, Training, etc...) placed on the instructor.
Every semester, students complete two surveys to give feedback to the instructor regarding the elements of this course. These anonymous surveys are a way for you to provide honest feedback on the course. This feedback is essential to provide the best quality instruction and give you, the learner, the best learning experience. You are asked to give your honest opinion and to share any advice you have to make the course better. You will be asked questions regarding the instructor's presence, lectures, assignment quality, etc.
Mid-Semester Survey
This survey will take place during week 7 of the course. This survey will act as a prerequisite for Module 5 and will require completion before moving forward in the course. You will be graded for your participation in the quiz, not for your answers, as the survey is anonymous.
About Your Instructor
Instructor bio. Hello everyone. My name is Dr. Chris Reynolds and I am your professor for this class. I retired after 32 years as a Division Chief/Shift Commander with Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (Tampa, FL). I am a board-certified emergency manager (CEM) with a doctorate in education. I am also a Chief Fire Designee (CFO) through the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) program at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. I also hold the Military Emergency Manager Specialist Master Badge.
I also retired from the United States Air Force Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel, finishing up my 21-year Air Force career as an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) assigned to the Defense Support of Civilian Authorities (DSCA) Command Cell, 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern), Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Air Force EPLOs support the designated combatant commander and lead federal agencies to assist in coordinating military support to local, state and federal agencies involved in domestic incident management. I was deployed to the Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, assisting the FEMA Incident Support Team (IST) on site. Again, in 1995, I was deployed to the Florida State Emergency Operations Center as a part of the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and coordinated all firefighting and urban search and rescue (ESF 4 & 9) operations during Hurricane Opal.
In my military role, I deployed to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as the officer in command of an aeromedical evacuation liaison team (AELT) that was a part of Joint Task Force (JTF) Katrina and coordinated joint civilian/military airlift of over 20,000 evacuee’s and 4,500 casualties. I had the honor and privilege of deploying with a GREAT team of personnel shortly after the September 11th attacks. My Team and I were among the first mobilized in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks in 2001 and deployed as the commanding officer of an Aeromedical Evacuation Team to two classified forward locations in the Afghanistan/Pakistan area. My Team coordinated the medical evacuation of US and coalition combat casualties and directly supported combat search and rescue operations. Our Team was recognized by the Department of Defense and awarded the valor “V” device for our efforts. In 1995, I deployed to Haiti during OPERATION UPHOLD DEMOCRACY and coordinated rotary lift-aeromedical evacuation between Port A’ Prince and the USNS Comfort. Most recently, I was deployed during the Haitian Earthquake and coordinated all casualty movements from the Haiti AOR to South Florida air hubs for transport to US Trauma Centers.
I am married with three fantastic daughters and three wonderful grandsons. Aside from my family and grandsons, my passion is my ‘64 Chevelle SS, ‘66 Mustang GT Fastback, and '67 SS/RS Camaro convertible.
Prepare for a Successful Semester
Take these steps:
Watch the Introduction Video.
Read the Syllabus.
Introduce yourself to the class.
Take the Course Orientation Quiz.
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