Course Handouts

    The following are copies of handouts that students receive throughout the duration of the course.  All

 documents are in .pdf format:

• Syllabus

• Hold Harmless Agreement

• Clinical Preceptor Sheet

• Abbreviations

• AHA (American Heart Association) CPR Guidelines 2006

• Adult Vital Signs

• Oxygen Concentrations

• Heart

• Arteries

• Veins

• Combitube

• Diabetic Emergencies

• Skeleton

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 Visit the practical skills page for copies of the practical skill sheets.

 Study Guides

    Study guides for each of the written examinations are available below in .pdf format.  These cover the

 majority of the topics on the examinations, but some examination topics may not be on the study guide.  The

 examinations are cumulative, and each study guide only lists topics from the new chapters.

• Examination 1 (Chapters 1-4)

• Examination 2 (Chapters 5-8)

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 Patient Reports

    Previous course students have often expressed a desire to be able to practice writing patient reports,

 especially narratives.  Students can now download and practice completing IU-EMS patient reports from the

 documentation page.  It is important to understand that every EMS has its own patient report and patient

 care protocols.  The IU-EMS patient care report is designed specifically for patients that IU-EMS EMTs

 assess and treat according to IU-EMS protocols.  While it is useful for practicing general report writing, its

 details differ from those of other EMS' patient reports.

 Gaining Experience

    The best way to successfully learn EMT-Basic material is to put it into practice!  IU-EMS offers two ways for

 current students to practice the skills they are learning in the course:

• Join IU-EMS and work at events as a First Aider.  Simply inform the EMT that you are working with that you are taking the course, and he or she will attempt to facilitate the opportunity for you to practice noncritical and easily monitored skills, such as taking vitals signs and performing the verbal portion of the EMT patient assessment (i.e. SAMPLE history, OPQRST).  Visit the scope of practice page for more information on the limitations on what a First Aider can do.  Once you receive your state certification, you can work for IU-EMS at events as an EMT.  Visit the joining IU-EMS page for more information on how to join IU-EMS.

• Volunteer to serve as a simulated patient at the IU-EMS state practical skills examination.  This experience will provide you with invaluable knowledge of what to expect when you take your own state practical skills examination upon successfully completing the course.  As a patient, you will be subject to such things as physical examinations and being placed in a cervical collar and onto a backboard.

 Supplements

    The following are the most prominent supplemental printed materials for students (all links open in a

 new window):

             Course Workbook                Course Review Manual              IAFC Review Manual              Kaplan Review Manual

                        Click to Enlarge                                  Click to Enlarge                                     Click to Enlarge                                   Click to Enlarge

                  Available At:                           Available At:                           Available At:                            Available At:

                   EMTB.com                             EMTB.com                            EMTB.com                                Amazon

                     Amazon                                                                             Amazon                             Barnes & Noble

                Barnes & Noble                                                                   Barnes & Noble

                                         AAOS Review Manual            EMT-B Field Guide     EMS Documentation Guide

                                                                Click to Enlarge                              Click to Enlarge                          Click to Enlarge

                                                 Available At:                       Available At:                   Available At:

                                                  EMTB.com                        EMTB.com                      EMTB.com

                                                    Amazon                            Amazon                          Amazon

                                               Barnes & Noble                  Barnes & Noble               Barnes & Noble

    Additionally, IU-EMS owns several EMS-related books and CD-ROMS available for course students to

 utilize for free, including the textbook's companion workbook.  Visit the resources page for more information.

 Online Material

    The internet is full of useful EMS and public safety information.  The following are the most prominent

 websites providing information useful to EMT-Basic students.  All links open in a new window.

• EMT-B:  Textbook website.  Flashcards, crosswords, glossary, anatomy, interactive scenarios, practical skills, quizzes, videos, supplements, links, and more!

• Emergency Medical Ed:  Thorough explanations and review by modules.

• EMS Resource:  Vital signs quick reference.

• EMS Village:  Breath sounds library, crosswords, quizzes.

• Human Anatomy Online:  Interactive exploration by body system.

• Get Body Smart:  Interactive exploration by body system.

• Patient Assessment Definitions (.pdf):  Clearly explains the different types of patient assessment.

• RALE Repository:  Breath sounds library.

• Trauma:  Glasgow Coma Scale.

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    The websites listed above are only the most basic and general in scope.  Visit the supplements page for a

 list of several more websites with more detailed information on specific aspects of emergency medical care.

 State Certification

 Students wishing to obtain Indiana EMT-Basic certification must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old.

• Possess current professional CPR certification.

• Successfully complete an Indiana EMT-Basic course.

• Successfully complete four online courses.

• Complete a minimum number of hours of clinical training on an ambulance (usually eight)

• Complete a minimum number of hours of clinical training in an emergency department (usually eight).

• Establish a minimum number of total patient contacts from all clinical training (usually eight).

• Successfully complete the Indiana EMT-Basic written examination.

• Successfully complete the Indiana EMT-Basic practical skills examination.

• Submit a complete Indiana EMT-Basic certification application (.pdf).

    The course and the additional certification requirements can be completed anywhere in the state.

 Therefore, a student can take a course in Bloomington and take the state examinations elsewhere, and

 vice versa.  For opportunities to take the Indiana course at another location, visit the state's course

 schedule (new window).

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 State Examinations

    Students must successfully complete both a state written examination and a state practical skills

 examination as part of the requirements to obtain certification.

 ► Written Examination

         The state written examination can be taken at any Ivy Tech campus, including the Bloomington one.  Visit

      the state Ivy Tech page (new window) for locations and contact information for Ivy Tech campuses.

      Alternatively, you can also visit the state schedule (new window) for the times, locations, and contact

      information for other written examinations.

 ► Practical Skills Examination

         Most students take IU-EMS' practical skills examination after successfully completing the course.  Visit

      the student page for the examination for more information, and the EMT-Basic practical skills page for

      copies of the practical skill sheets and helpful tips on successfully practicing and completing the skills.

      The Bloomington Ivy Tech campus also offers examinations, usually the week following the IU-EMS one.

      Speak with or e-mail the course instructor, Arch Tinsley, for more information.  Alternatively, you can also

      visit the state schedule (new window) for the times, locations, and contact information for other practical

      skills examinations.

    The state EMS commission will send your certification card via postal mail after you successfully complete

 both state examinations and submit the appropriate application materials.  However, your certification

 number should be available on this page (new window) a few days after you successfully complete the second

 of the two state examinations.  Once you obtain your certification number, you are licensed to practice as an

 EMT-Basic in Indiana.  You do not need to wait to receive your certification card via postal mail.

    Note About the State Examinations:  The IU EMT-Basic course offers students numerous attempts to

 pass the course's written and practical skills examinations, and many students who take the course choose

 not to seek state certification; therefore, they only learn the material well enough to complete the course.

 Students who take the state examinations often report that the level of knowledge and skill proficiency

 required to complete the course is not sufficient to successfully complete the examinations.  In order to be

 properly prepared for the examinations, students are recommended to take the following three measures:

• Thoroughly read and study all of the material in the textbook.  A student can not successfully complete the state written examination without knowing the material presented in each chapter of the textbook.

• Make use of pneumonics and acronyms, flash cards, practice scenarios, practice tests, study and reference sheets, and other learning tools.  Many of these are included in the textbook, and others are available online (see above).

• Practice each practical skill both during and outside of the practical skills laboratory until you are confident in your ability to successfully complete each skill without any assistance or reference to the  skill sheet.  A rule of thumb that has proven to be successful is that you must be able to successfully complete a skill six consecutive times without any assistance or reference to the skill sheet in order to  be able to successfully complete that skill on the state practical skills examination.  Simply watching a demonstration of the skill or watching other students perform the skill is not sufficient preparation for successfully completing the skill yourself.

 National Certification

    Students wishing to obtain national certification must successfully complete an NREMT (National Registry

 of EMTs) written examination and an NREMT practical skills examination.  To work in Indiana, an EMT

 must obtain Indiana EMT certification.  The national certification can help in obtaining reciprocity in a

 second state, but students must check the specific requirements for the state in which they are interested in

 applying for reciprocity.  Visit the NREMT website (new window) more for information on national certification.

    NREMT will send your certification card via postal mail after you successfully complete both national

 examinations and submit the appropriate application materials.  However, your certification number

 should be available on this page (new window) a few days after you successfully complete the second of the

 two state examinations.  Once you obtain your certification number, you can use it to apply for reciprocity in

 any state that accepts national certification.  You do not need to wait to receive your certification card via

 postal mail.

    Note About the National Examinations:  While most students take the state examinations almost

 immediately after the completion of the course, they are usually not able to take the national examinations

 until a later time.  Additionally, many students also report that the national examinations are more difficult than

 the state examinations.  Therefore, students are reminded to make sure they are properly prepared for the

 national examinations; simply completing the state examinations may not be sufficient.

 Links

    The following links provide additional background or EMT-Basic course information.  All links open in a

 new window except the EMT-Basic practical skills page and the IU-EMS practical examination page.

• Registrar Course Description

• Course Page (Some Information Outdated)

• Instructor Profile

• EMTB.com

• FEMA IS-100 Course

• FEMA IS-700 Course

• DPC WMD 002 Course

• DPC WMD 005 Course

• Bloomington Hospital Clinical Student Information

• State Ivy Tech Written Examinations

• State Written Examination Schedule

• State Practical Skills Examination Schedule

• EMT-Basic Practical Skills

• IU-EMS EMT-Basic State Practical Skills Examination Student Information

• Indiana EMT-Basic Certification Application (.pdf)

• National Registry of EMTs

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All IU students are encouraged to visit the safety section for information on campus and personal safety.

EMT-Basic Lab Spring 2007

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