This two-day training provides a comprehensive look at the realities of domestic violence and the life-saving role emergency responders play in protecting victims. Taught by a multidisciplinary team, Tanya Lee, a survivor and advocate, Jim Schmidt from the Gabby Petito Foundation, and Tina DeCola from Las Vegas Fire and Rescue 9-1-1, the course blends personal experience, professional insight, and evidence-based practices to deepen responder awareness and effectiveness.

Day One focuses on the complex dynamics of domestic violence and the mindset of victims. Through Tanya’s lived experience, participants will gain a deeper understanding of why victims stay, the emotional and psychological barriers they face, and how responders can approach these calls with empathy, clarity, and cultural awareness.

Day Two centers on strangulation recognition, a critical yet often overlooked aspect of domestic violence response. Led by Jim Schmidt and Tina DeCola, this portion of the training highlights the direct link between non-fatal strangulation and future homicide, the medical and legal implications of strangulation, and the subtle cues responders must be equipped to recognize. Attendees will leave with practical tools to assess risk, escalate appropriately, and support both victim safety and responder well-being.

Course Objectives

1. Explain the psychological, emotional, and financial factors that influence why victims stay, and how these barriers shape victim behavior during emergency calls.
2. Recognize non-physical forms of abuse, including coercive control, intimidation, isolation, and financial manipulation, and understand their impact on victim decision-making.
3. Identify subtle verbal and environmental cues during 9-1-1 calls, such as tone shifts, hesitations, coded language, and background noise that may indicate danger or coercion.
4. Describe the signs, symptoms, and medical and legal implications of non-fatal strangulation, and apply strategies for appropriately escalating high-risk domestic violence situations.
5. Apply self-care and secondary-trauma mitigation strategies, to maintain emotional resilience and long-term well-being in high-stress responder roles.