Course description
This course is designed to instruct students with no previous medical training to the level of Emergency Medical Technician.
After successful completion of the program, the student will be capable of performing the functions proscribed by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Medical Technician- Basic curriculum.
This EMS certification level is the foundation level for all emergency medical responders.
The Course
The EMS Academy began teaching the Department of Transportation (DOT) 40 hour course in 1972. Today the course consists of two parts: didactic and lab that total approximately 180 hours of instruction.
The curriculum includes 96 hours of didactic instruction, covering the minimum standard DOT curriculum, as well as additional curricula that prepares an EMT-Basic to stay on the forefront of prehospital field techniques and the advancing knowledge base of prehospital care. 80 hours of lab instruction includes individual instruction in airway management, multi-lumen airways, semi-automatic defibrillation, patient packaging, emergency child birth and patient assessment skills. Special skills include a block of material on hazardous material response that results in an "Awareness" level hazardous material certification. In addition students are trained to use glucometry, pulse oximetry and to administer several drugs.
Graduates of the program are awarded a certificate of completion. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will be eligible to sit for the state EMT licensing examination.
Specifics
The EMT course is taught both at the EMS Academy in Albuquerque, and also at multiple off-site locations.
EMT- refresher courses are regularly offered to recertifying EMTs.
