Victoria Chames served for eight years as a firefighter and officer for Alameda County O.E.S. Fire Department. Her teaching experience includes two years as a Fire Training Officer and four years as Emergency Medical Services Officer and Trainer. She also taught Citizens' Disaster Preparedness first aid for two years in a program co-sponsored by City of Berkeley Fire Dept. and Alta Bates Medical Center and was Director of Fire Med for eight years, a Ca. EMSA Continuing Education program for EMT & Paramedic, Alameda County CE Provider #01-0022.

In 1996 she created Disaster First Aid© a new unique course that draws upon her knowledge and experience in real disasters and her work as a caregiver in a hospital ER. She began teaching this course in community groups and private schools and in the process wrote the book Disaster First Aid: What To Do When 911 Can't Come, and later developed the course into a complete Training System.

In 1998 an "Instructor Kit" of user-friendly Teaching Materials was added (now in it's 3rd Edition) and the course became available and easy to teach for CERT programs, community groups, schools, and businesses. In response to many requests, a "Train the Trainer" Instructor Training Course will be launched later this year.

Victoria is now retired from active duty in Fire Service and is a cuurently practicing hospital Emergency Room Medical Technician in Berkeley California, and CEO of Disaster First Aid - When 911 Can't Come.

Credentials: CFSTES Regional Fire Instructor and California EMSA Continuing Education Provider #01-0022, former firefighter, Training Officer, & Emergency Medical Services Officer, and a currently practicing Hospital ER Medical Technician with more than 25 years of Hospital and Field Experience.

Copyright 1996-2010 V. Chames / Darkhorse Press United States