That's not a simple radio for a beginner to use. While it might not be illegal to use it in an emergency, it would not be legal to try out transmitting with it for practice.

I wouldn't want to use any radio like that in an emergency, unless I was already familiar with it. Just reading the manual doesn't count. That's why local amateur radio groups often have regular training session and weekly nets to ensure familiarity with operating procedures and their own equipment.