Safety & Preparedness Training
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere—but knowing just a few simple skills can make all the difference. Boston College offers hands-on, easy-to-learn training opportunities that will help you feel confident and prepared to respond in a crisis.
You can learn essential life-saving skills such as CPR, first aid, active shooter response, psychological first aid, and general emergency preparedness. These trainings are open to all students, faculty, and staff, and many can be customized to fit the needs of your department, student organization or group.
A small time commitment today could make a life-saving difference tomorrow. Explore our training options below and take the first step toward becoming a more confident, prepared and resilient member of the BC community.
The Office of Emergency Management offers emergency preparedness training which provides the Boston College community with the knowledge and skills needed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a variety of emergency situations. Whether you're a student, faculty member, or staff member, this training will help you stay safe and make informed decisions in a crisis.
What You’ll Learn:
- Recognizing Campus Hazards – Learn about potential emergencies such as severe weather, power outages, fires, hazardous material spills, and more.
- Emergency Communication & Alerts – Understand how Boston College communicates emergency notifications and how to stay informed.
- Evacuation & Shelter Procedures – Know when to evacuate, where to go, and how to safely shelter in place during different emergencies.
- Basic First Aid & Response Skills – Learn essential first aid techniques and how to assist others until professional responders arrive.
- Personal Preparedness & Emergency Planning – Develop an individual or department emergency plan, including assembling an emergency supply kit.
Customizable Training for Your Department or Division
- Open to all students, faculty, and staff departments, divisions, or groups
- Available for departments, offices, and student organizations
- Sessions range from 30 minutes to 2 hours based on group needs
- We are happy to tailor the training to your department’s specific roles and responsibilities
Get Prepared, Stay Safe!
Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. By participating in this training, you’ll be better equipped to protect yourself and assist others in critical situations. Whether you're looking to increase campus safety awareness, enhance your department’s emergency preparedness, or learn essential survival skills, this training is for you!
For more information or to schedule a session, contact bc_emergency@bc.edu
What is CERT?
CERT is a program to teach and prepare participants for emergencies and disasters, so they can help themselves and others in their community when needed. Skills participants are taught include emergency preparedness, hazard identification, hands on basic medical operations, CPR, light search and rescue, fire suppression, disaster psychology, disaster operations and a full scale disaster simulation. More information about CERT teams can be found below:
FEMA Emergency Management Institute CERT Introduction Course
BC CERT
The Boston College CERT, is a program that runs once a semester over a few weeks. Classes consist of a total of 24 training hours. The course is concluded by a full scale disaster simulation during which you can practice your new skills. Classes are open to students, faculty, and staff, and are free of charge. To date over 300 members of the BC community have been trained in this program.
Visit our Facebook page to view photos of previous classes
If you would like more information on our CERT program, or have any questions, please email us at bc_emergency@bc.edu
The Just In Time Training, offered by the Office of Emergency Management, equips the Boston College community with essential life-saving skills to respond confidently in emergency medical situations until professional help arrives.
What You’ll Learn:
- Hands-Only CPR & AED Use – Learn how to recognize cardiac arrest and provide effective chest compressions while using an automated external defibrillator (AED).
- Shock, & Severe Bleeding Control – Identify & practice shock and life-threatening bleeding using direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets.
- Choking Response & Severe Allergic Reactions – Understand how to assist someone who is choking and properly administer an EpiPen in an anaphylactic emergency.
- Stroke, Calling for Help & Psychological First Aid – Learn how to keep yourself safe, identify someone having a strok and how to provide emotional support to those affected by a crisis.
Hands-On Training Component
Participants will have the opportunity to practice these life-saving techniques in a hands-on setting, reinforcing skills and building confidence to take action in real-life emergencies.
Flexible & Customizable
- Open to all students, faculty, and staff
- Training sessions range from 30 minutes to 2 hours based on your group’s needs
- We are happy to tailor the training to your department or organization’s specific needs
Get Involved!
Preparedness is a shared responsibility. Whether you're looking to increase personal readiness, improve your team’s emergency response, or gain practical knowledge, this training is for you!
For more information or to schedule a session, contact bc_emergency@bc.edu
The Psychological First Aid (PFA) Training, teaches skills to provide immediate emotional and psychological support to individuals experiencing distress or trauma. PFA is a flexible, culturally informed, and practical approach designed to help people cope, recover, and build resilience following a crisis.
What You’ll Learn:
- Recognizing Trauma & Stress Reactions – Identify the emotional, physical, and behavioral signs of distress in adults and children.
- Providing Immediate Support – Learn how to offer reassurance, comfort, and active listening to those in crisis.
- Effective Communication & What Not to Say – Understand the best ways to support someone without pressuring them to talk or relive their experience.
- When to Seek Professional Help – Recognize warning signs that indicate when additional mental health support is needed.
- Self-Care & Managing Secondary Trauma – Learn strategies to care for yourself while supporting others.
Hands-On Learning Component
Participants will have the opportunity to practice real-world scenarios, applying the principles of PFA in a supportive, hands-on training environment. This interactive component helps build confidence in responding effectively to trauma and distress.
Flexible & Customizable
- Open to all students, faculty, and staff
- Training sessions range from 30 minutes to 1 hour based on group needs
- We have partnered with various departments and student organizations to promote campus well-being
- Training can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your team, department, or organization
Get Involved!
In times of crisis, a compassionate response can make all the difference. Whether you are looking to enhance personal preparedness, support others, or foster a more resilient community, this training is for you!
For more information or to schedule a session, contact bc_emergency@bc.edu
The Active Shooter Response Training provides the Boston College community with critical knowledge and skills to respond effectively in the event of an active shooter or other active threat situations. This training is designed to help individuals stay safe, make informed decisions, and take action when seconds matter.
What You’ll Learn:
Plan, Evaluate, Respond – Understand the best course of action in an active shooter situation and how to make quick, informed decisions to protect yourself and others.
Recognizing Warning Signs – Learn about pre-incident indicators and situational awareness strategies to improve personal and community safety.
Communicating with Emergency Services – Learn how to effectively report emergencies, provide key details to 911 operators, and respond to law enforcement instructions.
Emergency Preparedness & Recovery – Understand the importance of creating an emergency plan and how to recover from high-stress situations.
Flexible & Customizable
- Open to all students, faculty, and staffAvailable for departments, offices, and student organizations
- Sessions range from 30 minutes to 1 hour based on group needs
- Training can be tailored to specific environments, roles, or concerns
For more information or to schedule a session, contact bc_emergency@bc.edu
Boston College Emergency Medical Services (BCEMS) offers a variety of life-saving training courses for Boston College students, faculty, and the greater BC community, including:
- American Heart Association CPR & AED for Healthcare Professionals (BLS)- This class covers core material such as adult and pediatric CPR, airway obstruction, and automated external defibrillation (AED). This course is for healthcare providers who must have a credential documenting successful completion of a CPR course, or to others who wish to learn the most in-depth version of CPR available.
- Heartsaver First Aid CPR/AED- This class provides participants the highest quality training in the lifesaving skills of first aid, CPR, and use of an AED.
- First Aid- This class equips participants with essential skills to recognize and respond to common medical emergencies with confidence.
- Hands-only CPR- This class teaches hands-only CPR and AED use, providing a simple way to learn lifesaving skills without formal certification.
- Emergency Medical Technician Training- This is an on-campus EMT course that provides over 150 hours of instruction, equipping participants with the skills and knowledge needed to respond to medical emergencies. The course is offered during the fall and spring semesters, as well as over the summer. Participants will be prepared to take the state EMT exam to become a certified EMT.
- Narcan Training- This 30 minute class covers basic life saving skills associated with opioid overdoses. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, how to administer Narcan to reverse said overdose, and how to give hands-only CPR.
BCEMS also frequently does tabling events on campus to promote life-saving skills such as hands-on training in CPR, first aid, and Narcan use.
For more information, contact the Community Education Coordinator at EagleEMScommed@gmail.com.
BC Police offers a key program called the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) System, a free, women-only course that starts with awareness, prevention, risk education, and risk avoidance, before progressing to hands-on defense training. This program is designed to equip women with realistic self-defense tactics and techniques.
BC Police also provides Crime Prevention Education programs, covering topics such as alcohol education, personal safety, and identity theft prevention. These initiatives aim to inform and empower the Boston College community to proactively safeguard themselves and their property.
For more information on these programs, including upcoming sessions and enrollment details, please visit BC Police website.
FEMA Independent Study - Through the Emergency Management Institute, FEMA offers numerous emergency and preparedness courses utilizing online independent study.
American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts - Offer many classes in personal preparedness including CPR, First Aid, Pet First Aid, Psychological First Aid, Emergency Shelter Operations, Mass Care, Lifeguard Training and many others. Classes taught at various locations in the Boston Area.
Boston DelValle Institute for Emergency Preparedness - Offer numerous courses in various subjects such as Medical Reserve Corps, Incident Command, Psychological First Aid, Flu Pandemic, Mass Casualty Events and many others.