In an EMT Basic course there are 7 main modules. Here we will break down each one! Understand that the course you are taking may have slight variations of this. The sections listed here are derived from national standards which are usually adopted verbatim by states and therefore schools. For example, some states allow an EMT Basic to establish an IV, and some do not.
Even though a course schedule for each class has to be approved by the state, some schools allow their instructors (EMT-B-IC’s) to improvise and omit things at their discretion. If your goal is to become nationally certified (NREMT) you will have to take an exam that includes up to everything in these modules. If for any reason your instructor is skipping sections, it will be your responsibility to study that material well enough to pass your NREMT exam.
The 7 Modules:
Module 1, Preparatory:
Introduction to Emergency Medical Care
Familiarizes the EMT candidate with the introductory aspects of emergency medical care.
Topics covered include the Emergency Medical Services system, roles, and responsibilities of
the EMT, quality improvement, and medical direction.
Well-Being of the EMT (Stress Management, Communicable Disease)
Covers the emotional aspects of emergency care, stress management, introduction to Critical
Incident Stress Management (CISM), scene safety, body substance isolation (BSI), personal
protection equipment (PPE), and safety precautions that can be taken prior to performing the
role of an EMT.
Medical/Legal and Ethical Issues
Explores the scope of practice, ethical responsibilities, DNR legislation, consent, refusals,
abandonment, negligence, duty to act, confidentiality, and special situations such as organ
donors and crime scenes. Medical/legal and ethical issues are vital elements of the EMT’s daily
life.
The Human Body (Anatomy and Physiology)
Enhances the EMT’s knowledge of the human body. Medical terminology, body systems,
anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and topographic anatomy will be covered in this
session.
Baseline Vital Signs and SAMPLE History
Teaches assessing and recording of a patient’s vital signs and a SAMPLE history.
Lifting and Moving Patients (Patient Handling)
Provides students with knowledge of body mechanics, lifting and carrying techniques, principles
of moving patients, and an overview of equipment. Psychomotor skills of lifting and moving will
also be developed during this lesson.
General Pharmacology
Provides the student with a basic knowledge of pharmacology, providing a foundation for the
administration of medications given by the EMT and those used to assist a patient with self administration.
Additional Info:
You will be familiarized with a lot of equipment and techniques. Eye protection, gowns, gloves, masks, forms for reporting exposures. Exam gloves, stethoscope (dual and single head), blood pressure cuffs (adult, infant and child), penlights. Wheeled stretcher, stair chair, scoop stretcher, flexible stretcher, ambulance, long and short backboards, bed. Usually at the end of each module you will have a practical skills lab & module exam.
Module 2, Airway:
Airway, Oxygenation, Ventilation
Teaches airway anatomy and physiology, how to maintain an open airway, pulmonary
resuscitation, variations for infants and children, and patients with laryngectomies. The use of
airways, suction equipment, oxygen equipment and delivery systems, and resuscitation devices
will be discussed in this lesson. Use of the ETDLA (Combitube), igel®, and King Ltd will also
be covered. CPAP will be covered in this section.
Pocket mask, bag-valve-mask, flow restricted, oxygen-powered
ventilation device, oral airways, nasal airways, suction catheters, oxygen tank, regulator, nonrebreather mask, nasal cannula, and lubricant.
Practical Skills Lab & Module Exam
Module 3, Patient Assessment:
Scene Size-Up
Enhances the EMT’s ability to evaluate a scene for potential hazards, determine by the number
of patients if additional help is necessary, and evaluate mechanism of injury or nature of illness.
This lesson draws on the knowledge of Module 1.
Initial Assessment
Provides the knowledge and skills to properly perform the initial assessment. In this session,
the student will learn about forming a general impression, determining responsiveness,
assessment of the airway, breathing and circulation. Students will also discuss how to
determine priorities of patient care.
Focused History and Physical Exam – Trauma Patients
Describes and demonstrates the method of assessing patients’ traumatic injuries. A rapid
approach to the trauma patient will be the focus of this lesson.
Focused History and Physical Exam – Medical Patients
Describes and demonstrates the method of assessing patients with medical complaints or signs
and symptoms. This lesson will also serve as an introduction to the care of the medical patient.
Detailed Physical Exam
Teaches the knowledge and skills required to continue the assessment and treatment of the
patient.
On-Going Assessment
Exam gloves, stethoscope (dual and single head), blood pressure cuffs (adult, child and infant), penlight.
Documentation
Copies of a prehospital care report and a vital sign trend report.
Practical Skills Lab & Module Exam
Module 4, Medical, Behavioral, OB, GYN:
Respiratory Emergencies
This chapter reviews components of the lesson on respiratory anatomy and physiology. It will
also provide instruction on assessment of respiratory difficulty and emergency medical care of
respiratory problems, and the administration of prescribed inhalers.
Cardiovascular Emergencies (AED, CPR)
Review of the cardiovascular system, an introduction to the signs and symptoms of
cardiovascular disease, administration of a patient’s prescribed nitroglycerin, and use of the
automated external defibrillator are covered.
Diabetes/Altered Mental Status
Review of the signs and symptoms of altered level of consciousness, the emergency medical
care of a patient with signs and symptoms of altered mental status and a history of diabetes,
and the administration of oral glucose are covered.
Allergies
Teaches the student to recognize the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction, and to assist
the patient with a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.
Poisoning/Overdose
Teaches the student to recognize the signs and symptoms of poisoning and overdose.
Information on the administration of activated charcoal is also included in this section.
Environmental Emergencies
Covers recognizing the signs and symptoms of heat and cold exposure, as well as the
emergency medical care of these conditions. Information on aquatic emergencies and bites
and stings will also be included in this lesson.
Behavioral Emergencies
Develops the student’s awareness of behavioral emergencies and the management of the
disturbed patient. Restraining the combative patient will also be taught in this lesson.
Obstetrics/Gynecology
A review of the anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy,
management of normal and abnormal deliveries, signs, and symptoms of common
gynecological emergencies, and neonatal resuscitation are covered.
Abdominal Illness
Covers conditions related to abdominal complaints and the emergency care of abdominal
illness.
Central Nervous System Illness
Covers the assessment, related pathophysiology, and provision of emergency medical care for
stroke and seizure disorders.
Practical Skills Lab & Module Exam
Module 5, Trauma:
Bleeding and Shock
Reviews the cardiovascular system, describes the care of the patient with internal and external
bleeding, signs, and symptoms of shock (hypoperfusion), and the emergency medical care of
shock (hypoperfusion).
Soft Tissue Injuries
Continues with the information taught in Bleeding and Shock, discussing the anatomy of the
skin and the management of soft tissue injuries and the management of burns. Techniques of
dressing and bandaging wounds will also be taught in this lesson.
Musculoskeletal Care
Review of the musculoskeletal system, recognition of signs and symptoms of a painful, swollen,
deformed extremity and splinting, including traction, are taught in this section.
Injuries to the Head and Spine
Review the anatomy of the nervous system and the skeletal system. Injuries to the spine and
head, including mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms of injury, and assessment are
covered. Emergency medical care, including the use of cervical immobilization devices and
short and long back boards will also be discussed and demonstrated by the instructor and
students. Other topics include helmet removal and infant and child considerations.
Bleeding and Shock
Sterile dressings, bandages, splints, pneumatic antishock garment, triangular bandage, stick or rod, air splints, gloves, eye protection, blanket.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Universal dressing, occlusive dressing, 4 x 4 gauze pads, self adherent bandages, roller bandages, triangular bandage, burn sheets, sterile water or saline.
Musculoskeletal Care Splints:
Padded arm and leg, air, traction, cardboard, ladder, blanket, pillow, pneumatic antishock garment, improvised splinting material, e.g., magazines, etc.
Injuries to the Head and Spine
Long spine board, short spine immobilization device, cervical immobilization devices, helmet, head immobilization device, blanket roll, two inch tape.
Practical Skills Lab & Module Exam
Module 6, Pediatrics:
Geriatrics
This topic reviews situations of providing emergency care to geriatric patients and other
patients who may need modified communications and special handling.
Pediatrics
Presents information concerning the developmental and anatomical differences in infants and
children. There is discussion of common medical and trauma situations, along with
infants/children dependent on special technology. Dealing with an ill or injured infant or child
patient has always been a challenge for EMS providers.
Practical Skills Lab & Module Exam
Module 7, Operations:
Ambulance Operations
Presents an overview of the knowledge needed to function in the prehospital environment.
Topics covered include responding to a call, emergency vehicle operations, transferring
patients, and the phases of an ambulance call.
Gaining Access
Provides the EMT student with an overview of rescue operations. Topics covered include roles
and responsibilities at a crash scene, equipment, gaining access, and removing the patient.
Overview Topics
Provides the EMT student with information on hazardous materials, incident management
systems, mass casualty situations, and basic triage.
Communications
Discusses the components of a communication system, radio communications, communication
with medical direction, verbal communication, interpersonal communication, and quality
improvement.
Documentation
Assists the EMT in understanding the components of the written report, special considerations
regarding patient refusal, the legal implications of the report, and special reporting situations.
Reports are an important aspect of prehospital care. This skill will be integrated into all student
practices.
Practical Skills Lab & Module Exam
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