About the Project

As the potential for terrorist and non-terrorist CBRNE events increase there is an identified need to develop evidence-informed, practical tools and guidelines for first responders and for those that provide psychosocial supports to them and the affected populations.

SIMTEC is a multi-year research project which will assist EOC personnel to develop a more considered approach of the psychosocial dimensions of CBRNE and other hazardous events. Use of JIBC’s Hydra and Ex-Pod system will allow researchers to study senior officials during various exercise scenarios and the findings will demonstrate how to best enhance Canada’s and the international community’s capacity to respond more effectively to CBRNE and other threats.

The five primary benefits will be to:

enhance the existing knowledge base regarding how senior decision makers and Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) personnel incorporate psychosocial considerations into strategic and tactical decisions while responding to CBRNE and other threats;
develop a web based Collaboratory for researchers from around the world to access, use and test disaster exercises (including scenarios and injects) and training materials developed through this project;
assist first responders in incorporating psychosocial considerations into existing decontamination, CBRNE and other multi-casualty incident (MCI) protocols and procedures through the use of training sessions, materials and guidebooks;
assist family physicians when providing trauma support for patients following CBRNE and other MCIs through the development of guidelines for psychosocial treatment; and
identify practical evidence-informed psychosocial interventions to reduce stress levels and enhance decision making of senior personnel working in EOCs when responding to CBRNE and other threats.