Upcoming AVSS Schools
August 16 - 22, 2008
February 21 - 27, 2009 

Bad Things Happen Every Day! Are You Ready?
Be Prepared with AVSS!

Think back to September 11, 2001. Recall how you felt? What were your thoughts? The impacts of 9/11 reach far beyond the destruction of life and property. For us in the venue management industry, there remains responsibility of the highest priority to ensure a safe and secure place for
public assembly.

IAAM, “The Acknowledged Leader,” is imminently proactive in the realm of venue safety and security. IAAM’s Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS) is 5 full days of intensive training in security planning and life safety management for the public assembly venue industry. Not only does AVSS take you through an in-depth approach to many of the types of emergencies that can and will occur at public assembly facilities, but it also offers the most relevant and current safety and security training offered for individuals in venue management. Knowledgeable practitioners from the facility management industry, as well as recognized experts in safety and security, will aggressively train you in the most current techniques for planning, implementing and ensuring the safety of your patrons, staff, event, and facility. 

To help make sure your AVSS experience is fresh and that the content is on the cutting-edge of life safety, the curriculum has been organized into educational tracks. Each track will focus on a broad-based topic critical to safety and security. All tracks will consist of a series of courses designed to educate you by providing instruction, applicable tools, experience, and will typically conclude with a practicum on the topic. This new system also ensures that your AVSS education is in-depth and comprehensive, while allowing you to pursue other topics in the future.

The core curriculum AVSS Tracks are:

• Risk Management

• Emergency Planning

• Security Operations

• Training

Courses within a track will begin with the basic theory and overview of a topic, as well as basic application exercises at the 100 level. The 200 Level courses will expand on the application details, tools, and resources useful in the subject area. At the 300 level, you will begin to prepare a plan based on the topic and customized to your public assembly environment. During a 400 level practicum class, you will present, review/defend your plan and revise it for a completed plan or document. The practicum is an individually-prepared plan in the respective topic area, and is specifically applicable to your public assembly work environment. The practicum will require a plan or work document prepared prior to attending class.

On the last day of AVSS, you will be tested on the course taken and join your classmates in a celebratory closing banquet and ceremony.

Everything that CAN be done, SHOULD be done to protect our patrons, fellow employees, friends, neighbors and visitors to our facilities and to our communities.

For more information about AVSS, contact IAAM's Director of Life Safety, Harold Hansen, (773) 973-2049.