The U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA), National Fire Academy (NFA), an element of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (USDHS) Preparedness Directorate, announces the release of two mayday courses on one CD-ROM.

The courses can be incorporated into Firefighter I and II curricula, or used as in-service training for experienced firefighters. The CD-ROM is available to all fire departments and state fire training academies and can be requested through the USFA's Publications Center.

Calling the Mayday: Hands-On Training for Firefighters (H134) is an eight (8) hour course, which includes instructor's manual, job performance requirements, and skills-check forms to ensure that students can successfully perform the psychomotor components of the mayday doctrine.

The CD-ROM also contains the Firefighter Safety: Calling the Mayday (Q133) course, which includes a 40-minute video presentation covering the cognitive and affricative mayday doctrine needed by all firefighters. Students must pass written criteria testing with 100% accuracy to receive certificates.

Authorities having jurisdiction, Fire Chiefs or department training officers, must certify that students have successfully passed all testing elements, and submit students' applications (FEMA Form 75-5) to the NFA Admissions Office. NFA Certificates for H134 and Q133 will be sent to the students' organizations for distribution to graduates.

To obtain a copy of the new Mayday Training CD-ROM, submit a written request on department or organizational letterhead and signed by a Fire Chief or training officer to:

USFA Publications
Building I, Room 120
16825 S. Seton Ave.
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Or fax the letter of request to (301) 447-1213.