Hoboken Fire Department & Hoboken BOE Train First Responders for Autism Awareness

Emergency situations are inherently difficult—more so with the challenges of Autism.

This past Saturday, the Hoboken Fire Department and Hoboken Board of Education hosted an Autism Awareness training day, aimed at mitigating these challenges and educating responders.

The morning class was called Autism Shield for First Responders and focused on training police officers, firefighters, and EMTs. The afternoon class was called Hidden Dangers and centered on parents, teachers, and caregivers. Attendees learned skills about keeping individuals with Autism and other developmental conditions safe in the home, school, and community. Dozens attended the training, and the overwhelming response was that the information was informative and important.

Fight 4 Autism, a local non-profit charity, donated 7 “safety kits” to the HFD. These kits are designed to help minimize sensory overload during an emergency. Rock the 21, another local non-profit charity, donated lunch for all who attended so that attendees had a chance to meet first responders in between the classes. Gary Weitzen, Executive Director of POAC, served as the instructor.

***