Syllabus for EMT Basic

Duration: 280 hours PART 1. Introduction to Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Care: 1. The History of Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Care. 2. Components of an Emergency Medical Services System. 3. The Role and Responsibilities of the Emergency Medical Technician. 4. Levels of Emergency Medical Technician Training. 5. Professional Limitations, Legal Aspects, and Medical Ethics. 6. The P.S.E.M.T. 7. The E.M.T. Code of Conduct. 8. Health Hygiene and Fitness. 9. Health and Safety at Work. PART 2. Operational Control and Ambulance Response Procedures: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Receiving the call for help. The role of the Emergency Medical Dispatcher. Control Procedures. Operating the Ambulance. Positioning the Ambulance at the scene of the emergency. Routine, Urgent and Emergency Calls. Long Distance Transfers.

PART 3. Introduction to the Ambulance Vehicle and Equipment: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Ambulance Vehicle. Equipment and Supplies. General Care Of Ambulance Vehicle and Equipment. Daily checks Of Ambulance Vehicle and Equipment. The Vital Role of Cleanliness.

PART 4. Infection Control and the Emergency Medical Technician: 1. 2. 3. 4. The importance of Infection Control. Modes of Infection Prevention of Infection. Barrier Devices.

PART 5. Anatomy and Physiology of the body Systems: 1. Basic Cell Structure, Tissues, Glands and Organs. 2. Topographic Anatomy. 3. The Musculoskeletal System. 4. Body Regions and Cavities. 5. The Respiratory System. 6. The Lymphatic System. 7. The Cardiovascular System. 8. The Nervous System. 9. The Digestive System. 10. The Genitourinary System. 11. The Endocrine System. 12. The Reproductive System. 13. The Special Senses. 14. Medical Terminology. PART 6. Patient Examination and Assessment: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The Overall Approach. Field Assessment / Taking a History. The Sequence of Patient Assessment. The Primary Survey. The Secondary Survey. Mechanism of Injury. Triage Reporting Methods.

PART 7. Basic Life Support: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Clinical and Biological Death. The A, B, Cs of Basic Life Support. Pulmonary Resuscitation. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Partial and Complete Airway Obstruction. Management of Airway Obstruction. Basic Airway Management. CPR in a Moving Ambulance. Introduction to Manual and Mechanical Resuscitators / Ventilators.

PART 8. The Automated External Defibrillator ( AED ): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Principles of Defibrillation. Using a Defibrillator Safely. The Importance of Early Defibrillation. The Electrocardiogram. Life Threatening Arrhythmia's. Automatic and Semi - automatic Defibrillators.

PART 9. Breathing Aids and Oxygen Therapy: 1. Hypoxia 2. Artificial Ventilation Adjuncts (Barrier Devices). 3. Airway Adjuncts. 4. The Importance of Supplemental Oxygen. 5. Oxygen Therapy Equipment. 6. Oxygen Therapy Procedures. 7. The Hazards of Oxygen Therapy. 8. Suction Equipment. 9. Suction Techniques. 10. Mechanical Resuscitators / Ventilators. PART 10. Heamorrhage and Shock: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Types of Haemorrhage - Internal / External. Haemorrhage from Arteries / Veins / Capillaries. The Effects of Haemorrhage. The Control of Haemorrhage. Shock. Classifications of Shock. Basic Shock Management. Use of the M.A.S.T. Suit - Indications / Contraindications. Introduction to Advanced Shock Management.

PART 11. Management of Trauma: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Initial Management. Secondary Management. Head Injuries. Maxillo-Facial Injuries. Spinal Injuries: Cervical. Thoracic. Lumbar. Sacro-Coccygeal. Chest Injuries. Abdominal Injuries.

8. Pelvic Injuries 9. Back Injuries (Musculoskeletal). 10. Genitalia Trauma. 11. Extremity Trauma. 12. Traumatic Amputations. 13. Trauma to Pregnant Patients. PART 12. Burns and their Management: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Classification of Burns. Types of Burns. The Rule of Nines. Management of Burns. Complications of Burns. Inhalation Injuries. Transportation of Burns cases.

PART 13. Environmental Emergencies - Heat / Cold / Water and Ice: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. Hypothermia. Frostbite. Drowning and Near-Drowning. Decompression Sickness and Barotrauma. Bites and Stings. Man made Hazards.

PART 14. Medical Emergencies - Cardiovascular: 1. The Nature of Cardiovascular Disorders. 2. Angina Pectoris. 3. Myocardial Infarction. 4. Congestive Heart Failure. 5. Pacemaker Failure. 6. Stokes Adams Attacks. 7. Pericarditis. 8. Hypertension. 9. Cardiac Tamponade. 10. Aortic Aneurysms. 11. Management of Cardiovascular Medical Emergencies.

PART 15. Medical Emergencies Respiratory: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The Nature of Respiratory Disorders. Asthma. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Pulmonary Edema. Pulmonary Embolism. Pneumonia. Pleurisy. Management of Respiratory Medical Emergencies.

PART 16. Medical Emergencies Neurological Disorders: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Nature of Neurological Disorders. Transient Ischaemic Attacks. Cerebro-Vascular Accidents (CVA's). Epilepsy. Seizures.

PART 17. Medical Emergencies Misc., 1. Diabetic Emergencies. 2. The Acute Abdomen. 3. Gastrointestinal Bleeding. 4. Ulcerations. 5. Eosophagitis. 6. Cholecystitis. 7. Poisoning - Accidental / Non Accidental. 8. Allergic Reactions. 9. Sepsis. 10. Dehydration. 11. Urinary Colic. PART 18. Emergency Childbirth, Obstetric and Gynecological Emergencies: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Emergency Childbirth Complications of Pregnancy. Complications of Delivery. Evaluation of the Mother. Evaluation of the Newborn Baby - The Apgar Scale. Pre-Delivery Emergencies. Post Delivery Emergencies.

8. Resuscitation of the Newborn Baby. 9. Premature Babies and Incubators. 10. Stillborn Infants. 11. Babies and Oxygen. PART 19. Pediatric Emergencies: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Parental Response Child's Response. The ill or Injured Child - Special Considerations. Assessment of the Pediatric Patient. Physical Assessment Techniques. Assessing Pain in Children. Neurological Assessment in Children. Common Emergencies in Children: Obstructed Airway. Acute Asthmatic Attack. Status Asthmaticus. Bronchiolitis. Epiglotitis. Croup. Infantile Convulsions. 9. Common Childhood Diseases: Measles. Rubella. Chickenpox. Mumps. Tonsillis 10. Assessment and Management of Pediatric Trauma. 11. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. 12. Child Abuse and Neglect. 13. Solvent Abuse. PART 20. Infectious Diseases: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Infectious Diseases - General. Infectious Diseases - Categories 1 & 11. Infectious Diseases - Category 111. The Aids and Hepatitis B Virus. Management of the Infectious Patient

PART 21. Behavioral Emergencies and Special Conditions: 1. Psychological Emergencies - General Principles. 2. Emotional Response to Illness or Injury. 3. Communication with the Emotionally Disturbed Patient. 4. Anxiety and Phobias. 5. The Depressive Patient. 6. The Suicidal Patient. 7. Paranoid Patients. 8. Schizoid Patients. 9. Rage, Hostility and Violent Behavior. 10. Restraining the Physically Aggressive Patient.

11. Physical Disorders that resemble Psychological Disturbances. 12. The Blind Patient. 13. The Deaf Patient. 14. The Geriatric Patient. 15. The Renal Patient. 16. Amputees and Artificial Limbs. 17. Alcohol abuse and the Alcoholic Patient. PART 22. Pain Relief: 1. 2. 3. 4. Introduction to Analgesia. Pre-Hospital Analgesia. The Advantages of effective pain relief during transport. Entonox / Nitronox Therapy.

PART 23. Multiple Casualty Incidents and Disaster Management: 1. What is a Major Incident. 2. Pre-Planning and Preparedness. 3. Establishing a Plan. 4. Scene Assessment and Management. 5. Rescue and Extrication. 6. Setting up Triage. 7. Triage Techniques. 8. The Importance of Effective Communications. 9. Staging and Transportation. 10. Special Considerations. 11. Emotional Factors of Major Incident Involvement. PART 24. Hazardous Substances and Hazmed Procedures: 1. Chemical, Radioactive and Biological Substances. 2. Legal Requirements for the Manufacture, Storage and Transportation of Hazardous Substances. 3. Regulations, Warning Signs and Sources of Information. 4. Hazmed Procedures for dealing with the Incidents Involving Hazardous Substances. 5. Explosives. 6. The Contaminated Patient. 7. Decontamination Procedures and Transport of Patients.

PART 25. Civil Disturbances: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Types of Incidents. The Role of the Ambulance Service during Civil Disturbance. Neutrality and Discipline. Protective Clothing. General Guidelines for Operation.

PART 26. Suspected Death and Management of Human Remains: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Legal Requirements for the Certification of Death. Handling the Dead Body. Handling Distressed Relatives. Co-operation with other Services and Officials. Mortuary Procedures.

PART 27. Lifting and Moving Patients: 1. The Kinetics of Lifting. 2. Emergency Moves: Log Roles. Clothes Drag. Blanket Drag. Fireman's Drag. Fireman's Carry. Human Crutch Method. 3. Non-Emergency Moves: Seat Carry. Extremity Lift. Chair Lifts. Stretcher Lifts. 4. Using Ambulance Lifting Equipment: Ambulance Trolley Cot. Orthopaedic Stretcher. Carrying Chair. Carrying Sheets. Poles / Canvas / Spreaders. Basket Stretchers. Spinal Vacuum Mattress. Rescue Stretchers. 5. Use of the Blanket. 6. House Removals. 7. Patient Handling Techniques. 8. Patient Positioning. 9. Ambulance Loading and Off-Loading. PART 28. Patient Stabilization and Extrication: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Road Traffic Accidents. Survey of the Scene. Safety of the Scene. Gaining Access to the Incident. Light Rescue Techniques. Triage. Preparing the Patient for Extrication: Extrication Devices. Vacuum Mattress

9. Extrication Techniques. Vehicle Airbags. PART 29. Special Transfers: 1. 2. 3. 4. High Dependency Patients. Patients with Spinal Injuries. Transferring the Violent Patient. Patients with Infectious Diseases.

PART 30. Introduction to Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Working with Helicopters. Organization and Operation of the H.E.M.S. Unit. Air Rescue. Interhospital Transfers. Personnel and Equipment. Clinical Considerations. Use of the Helicopter in Disaster Situations.

PART 31. Communications and reports: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Personal Communication / Communication with Patients. Radio Communications. Patient Report Forms. Other EMS Reports. Liaison and Communications with Hospitals.

PART 32. Introduction to Defibrillation: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Anatomy of the Heart. The Conductive Pathways of the Heart. Ventricular Fibrillation. Ventricular Tachycardia. Electrical Defibrillation of the Heart.

MINUMUM REQUIREMENTS: Twelve Months appropriate experience. Evidence of a minimum of sixty hours Continuous Medical Education. Minimum of six hundred and forty hours active Emergency Medical Services Duty, with full exposure to emergency cases.

Submission of a log of experience gained. EVALUATION: Examination - One Hour Multiple-Choice Paper. Examination - One Hour Short Answer Paper. Examination - One Hour Essay Paper. Examination - Written and Practical Test in Basic Life Support (BLS). Examination - Eight Station Practical Test on General E.M.T. Skills.