University Hospital Empowers Newark
Through Emergency Preparedness Training
When emergencies happen, the first few moments can make all the difference. That is why University Hospital’s Community Training Center is helping empower Newark residents and the surrounding region with the knowledge and confidence to respond when every second counts.
Through accessible, hands-on training such as CPR, Narcan administration, first aid, and bleeding control, the center is giving community members practical skills that can save lives in real-world emergencies. These courses are designed to strengthen public safety, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure more people know what to do before professional help arrives.
As an authorized American Heart Association Training Center, University Hospital offers CPR training for the community as well as professional level AHA courses and instructor certifications that prepare participants to deliver AHA programs. University Hospital is also an authorized American Safety and Health Institute Training Center, providing CPR, workplace safety, and community safety programs, along with instructor certifications for ASHI courses.
“Our goal is to make lifesaving knowledge accessible and second nature for the community we serve. When more people feel confident stepping in during an emergency and providing critical support until paramedics arrive, we strengthen the chain of survival across Newark and the surrounding region,” said Edward Van Wagner, Manager of University Hospital’s Community Training Center. “These trainings are about building readiness, resilience, and the ability to act without hesitation when every second matters most.”
The Community Training Center is an extension of University Hospital’s longstanding commitment to Newark and the surrounding region. As a Level I Trauma Center and New Jersey’s only public safety net hospital, University Hospital remains deeply invested in improving community health, advancing patient safety, and addressing urgent public health needs both inside and outside the hospital walls.
While many of the center’s offerings are focused on community education, it also provides advanced certification courses for healthcare professionals and first responders. These include ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support), PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), PEARS, NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program), Bloodborne Pathogens, and other specialized emergency response trainings. Some advanced courses require clinical backgrounds or course prerequisites.
All training is led by experienced clinicians, first responders, and educators with real-world emergency and disaster response expertise.
To learn more or register for an upcoming course, visit the Community Training Center’s website https://www.uhnj.org/for-community/community-training-center/ or call 973-972-4373. The office is located on the University Hospital campus in the Stanley S. Bergen Building, 65 Bergen Street, Room GA-67, Newark, NJ 07103.
