ASP104 – 36.00 Hours
Currently there are no scheduled classes for this course. However, in some cases a course can be scheduled to meet your organization’s specific needs. For more information about this course or to schedule a class, please contact Emergency Services Training Institute at (866) 878-8900 or [email protected] to get the latest schedule.
Course Description
This course covers topics necessary to work as a Public Information Officer (PIO), such as:
- ethics
- legal issues
- policies
- the media
- scene management
- news conferences
As part of the course, you will present information on camera about a simulated incident, prepare written press releases, and learn how to prepare for news-media interviews.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Completion Requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- PPE Level 0 as described in the TEEX Student Safety Manual.
- All participants are required to follow the TEEX Student Safety Manual at all times.
Attire
- Regular station duty wear for fire field activities
- Office attire for classroom sessions.
- You may not wear to any class or field activity
- shorts
- sleeveless shirts
- open-toed shoes
Participants Must Provide
- a photo identification on the first day of class. See the Participant Handbook for approved forms of identification and additional guidelines.
Attendance Requirements
To meet attendance requirements, participants must review each training module and complete all required course assignments, activities, quizzes, and/or end of course exam.
Topics
- The Public Information Officer
- Ethics, Legal Issues, Policies
- The Media
- Developing positive relationships with the media
- Gathering information
- Getting the information to the media
- Scene Management
- Multi-agency operations
- News Conferences
- Reaching the Community
- Review and Exam
Suggested Audience
All Emergency response personnel, including fire prevention, suppression, control and safety personnel.
Other Information
Hours
Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Course size limit
30 students
Registration Requirements
We have streamlined the process for payment via Texas A&M Forest Service funding (H.B. 2604 or TIFMAS Grant Assistance Program). Before you register for a course, you must attain approval from the Texas A&M Forest Service for training tuition. On your approval letter there will be a voucher approval number. Each participant approved for tuition grant assistance will need this number.
Register for your course through your TEEX student portal. On the payment section, choose “Purchase Order” and enter the “VFDE” number (for example “E123456”). If your department was approved for multiple participants, each participant up to the maximum approved in the training tuition request may use the same VFDE number. If the total amount due is greater than the total amount allowed by the tuition voucher, the individual/department will be responsible for the difference. You are no longer required to email or fax the approval letter to TEEX/ESTI unless it is specifically requested by TEEX staff.
The PO contact email needs to be either yourself or a responsible person within your organization.
A new data field has been added to the payment process. The Tax ID (Tax Payer ID, EIN or FEIN) will be the number assigned to your organization. The field is required and needs to be in the following format: xx-xxxxxxx.
Late Registration
The full rate will be applied after the early-bird registration deadline.