Hazardous wastes are categorically different from refuse and need to be handled differently. They pose risks to human health that range from harmful to catastrophic. In addition, they are serious threats to air, water, and land whose purity is necessary to sustain life. Both the toxicity of hazardous materials and the danger of fire or explosion make them potentially life threatening. The course provides the first responder with defensive techniques to aid in mitigation of hazardous materials incidents. Sometimes hazardous materials are spilled accidentally during shipment or storage. However, the threat of intentional release of hazardous materials such as chemicals and biological toxins is increasingly prevalent. International and domestic terrorists are demanding more attention to the threat of intentional releases of hazardous substances. The document describes hazardous materials incidents at Love Canal in Niagara Falls, Bhopal, India, and Kansas City, MO. The manual includes newspaper reports of hazardous materials incidents, details concerning how a number of chemicals affect the human body, information about personal protective equipment, and a glossary of "hazmat" terminology.