what is taught in a basic emt course

by Freda Grady 3 min read

What is an EMT-Basic Training Program?

Certification Level EMT-Basic
Common Courses Life support, cardiopulmonary resuscitat ...
Licensure Requirement Licensure is mandatory in all state
Median Salary (2020) $36,650 ( for all EMTs and Paramedics )
Jun 26 2022

Full Answer

What courses should I take to be an EMT?

  • Day 11: Airway Skills Lab, CPR Skills, Pharmacology Review, Vital Sign Lab
  • Day 12: Intro to Patient Assessment System, Medical Patient Lab, Medical Emergencies
  • Day 13: Lifting and Moving Lab, Trauma Skills Lab, Trauma Patient Assessment
  • Day 14: CEVO Driving, Trauma & Medical Scenarios,
  • Day 15: Standard Patient Care Labs
  • Day 16: TSOPS
  • Day 17: Clinicals

More items...

What education and training is required to become an EMT?

To be eligible for an EMT training program, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent degree, and a clean criminal record. Aside from formal training, EMTs must also have keen senses, especially eyesight and color vision. Physical fitness is also necessary for this position, because EMTs may be required to lift and move people.

How to become an EMT quickly?

To become EMT certified, you'll need to obtain the following:

  • A current certification to perform CPR
  • Completion of an educational course scaled to your type of EMT
  • A passing grade on a computer-based cognitive test administered through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Responders
  • A passing grade on a psychomotor exam that tests your hands-on ability to assess a patients' needs and deliver care.

Where can I find an EMT Basic Course?

Trauma: 1.5 Hour

  • Special Healthcare Needs
  • OB Emergencies
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pain Management
  • Psychiatric and Behavioral Emergencies
  • Toxicological Emergencies – Opioids
  • Neurological Emergencies – Seizures
  • Endocrine Emergencies – Diabetes
  • Immunological Emergencies

What do EMT basics learn?

You'll learn basic anatomy and physiology relevant to serving as an emergency medical technician, with an emphasis on the nervous system, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. You'll roll up your sleeves and learn how to care for the sick and injured, including dealing with communicable diseases and trauma.

How do I prepare for the EMT basic exam?

The best way to prepare for a test like the EMT cognitive exam is to use effective study aids like the Mometrix Study Guide and Mometrix Flashcards. These tools will provide with a clear and comprehensive overview of the material for all five content areas.

What are 5 skills that would be important for an EMT?

While technology has improved and streamlined emergency care, here are the five essential skills needed for all paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).Teamwork. ... Ability to navigate challenging situations. ... Think creatively. ... Mental toughness. ... Situational awareness.

Is EMT tough?

It may come as a shock if you're expecting to sail through your EMT classes, but EMT school is hard and it's hard because it's designed to weed out those people who won't cut it in a hard job. EMT work is not easy. It's physically demanding.

How hard is the national EMT exam?

The NREMT is a Difficult Test The average first-time pass rate in 2020 was 67% for EMTs and 70% for paramedics.

How do I pass the EMT written exam?

HOW TO STUDY FOR THE EMT EXAM?Keep Your Textbooks And Workbooks – Highlight definitions and any specifics that stand out, then read back over the highlighted portions until you feel confident enough in the concepts that you could teach someone else.Take the Practice Tests – Many EMT courses provide practice exams.More items...

What does an EMT schedule look like?

It consists of a nine-day cycle where each team works one 24-hour shift, followed by 24 hours off duty, then another 24-hour shift. They then receive another day off duty before working their final shift, followed by four consecutive days off duty.

How do you know if EMT is right for you?

10 Signs an EMT Career is Right for YouExcellent Bedside Manner. ... Good Communication Skills. ... Psychological Stability. ... Exceptional Social Skills. ... Compassion / Empathy. ... Diplomacy. ... Good Physical Condition. ... Dependability.More items...•

What personality traits do you need to be an EMT?

5 Qualities of a Successful EMTAbility to remain calm in stressful situations. When the word “emergency” is in the title of a position, it's clear that not everyone will be a good fit. ... Flexible. ... Good interpersonal skills. ... Team player. ... Positive attitude.

How long is EMT school?

one to three yearsBecoming an emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic typically takes one to three years, depending on your career goals and educational path. EMT training focuses on life support techniques for first-response situations, including CPR, tourniquet application, and wound treatment.

Do you have to be smart to be a paramedic?

Becoming a Paramedic/Medic/Emergency Medical Technician requires a lot of dedication and studying but above all you need to possess the passion for helping those who need it the most. If this is a career you really want to develop for yourself and you're willing to study smart, there's nothing stopping you!

Does being an EMT look good for medical school?

For that reason, medical schools look very favorably on EMT applicants. Your experience and dedication also prove to medical schools (and their admissions boards) that you already and truly have a passion for treating patients, and have proven so by taking the proper steps to building a solid career in medicine.

What is an EMT course?

EMT courses help student learn how to treat and transport the sick and injured. They teach Basic Life Support (BLS) skills and prepare candidates to give pre-hospital care in the field. Emergency Medical Technicians will be called on to transport patients with both severe emergencies and non-life threatening issues.

Who maintains responsibility for the development of EMT training course objectives?

Course Objectives. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains responsibility for the development of EMT training course objectives, but it’s each states responsibility to create EMT courses for their local areas.

Do EMT courses require materials?

EMT Course Materials. EMT courses have required materials for candidates who get accepted into their programs . Many EMT course websites indicate the cost of these items ahead of time, but here is a list so you can request prices if they aren’t provided.

What To Expect in EMT-Basic Training

The EMT-Basic training consists of 150 classroom theory hours that will familiarize the student with the human body, vital signs, and the importance of patient history. Students will also be trained in procedures for bloodborne pathogens and CPR, as well as use of ventilation and oxygen therapy and patient situational control.

Becoming an EMT-Basic

EMT-Basic training concludes with the National Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) and state licensing exams. The Cognitive Exam covers the material learned in course lectures and provides scenarios involving trauma, respiration, and more.

How many hours of training is required for EMS?

This training can require a minimum of 700 hours of classroom training, as well as a significant amount of field experience, but these medics can work in any setting, including airborne (helicopter) and wilderness EMS.

What is the EMT B?

Basic EMT: Also called EMT-B, this is an entry-level position where you learn basic life-saving skills and health care knowledge needed to provide pre-hospital care. At this level you are typically paired with a higher-level provider in ambulances, on fire trucks, or in the emergency department.

What is CPR certification?

CPR certification and NAEMT (National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians) certifications such as Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) will give you the skills and confidence you need to move forward in the field.

What is an EMS license?

EMS is a professional level career that requires you to become licensed as a medical professional. Licensing will vary depending on what state you are in. Here is the general EMT timeline from start to finish:

How old do you have to be to become an EMT?

You must be 18 years of age or older. You should have completed a state-approved EMT training program. You must possess a valid CPR certificate. You may be required to pass the NREMT examination. US citizen is usually required. Candidate must be in good health. Must be fluent in English. No criminal record.

Is EMT a rewarding career?

A Rewarding Career. Working as an EMT is an extremely rewarding career. EMTs have incredibly personal interactions with patients and their families. Moreover, they have the phenomenal ability to make a positive impact in their community and to truly serve those in need.

1. How to handle a patient with more than one problem

We teach about stroke, and then we teach about diabetes. Rarely do we teach what to do when a diabetic patient has a stroke. Students hear that glucose is bad for stroke patients but fail to realize that hypoglycemia is bad in any patient.

2. How to differentiate early versus late signs of shock in a scenario

Our students memorize the signs and symptoms of shock. Some classes provide enough pathophysiology for students to understand shock, but few provide exercises or scenarios that familiarize students with different patient presentations and give them practice in applying conceptual knowledge to determine criticality or make decisions about transport.

3. How to identify critical subtleties in assessment and care

Let’s say a student taking the NREMT gets a question where the scenario involves a male patient with chest pain. The patient is holding his fist to his chest like a cardiac patient and is sweaty and ashen like a cardiac patient—but instead of crushing pain, the patient has tearing or ripping pain.

4. How to differentiate among different causes of a complaint

In situations where an EMT must choose among multiple treatments that are available to administer, differential diagnosis is important—primarily because treatment decisions are based on choosing the right protocol. How is that choice made? By knowing what’s wrong with the patient.

5. How to choose a medication based on patient presentation

Our textbooks all have pharmacology chapters. They all have patient care chapters that discuss appropriate pharmacological interventions for many conditions.

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