Training/CME's in EMS

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Was talking with a good friend of mine who is also a medic and educator and we touched on the subject of EMS training and CME's and how often its the same topics over and over again, often based on the same book level knowledge as delivered in EMT and medic courses. Well, I know I get tired of some of the same old stuff and some of you know me and my friend/colleague as educator who has developed CME topics that are in depth but with topics that get more involved in knowledge of fields while reinforcing good recognition and treatment and have gotten positive feedback from many of you. Particularly with topics often given in lecture that we have been able to give some hands on portions as well.

So with that, I was wondering...what would you like to see? What are some topics in the book that you feel you'd like to know more about?

[JJB531 652]

What about a Street Smarts course for EMS providers? A couple sample topics:

Drug Recognition

Dealing with Emotionally Disturbed Persons

Violent Encounters/Basic Self Defense

Crime Scene Awareness

Scene Safety

Make it interactive/hands on. More of a scenario based training experience in addition to classroom lecture.

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Wow. At least I got one response. Guess I didn't have anything worth discussing

[ex-commish 490]

HAZMAT

WMD

Rig Placement

Interaction with FD, PD

Personal Safety

[PFDRes47cue 653]

PCR's

Interaction with FD/PD

Roadway Safety

Communication with Hopsital

Childbirth and Obstetrics

Scope of Practice

[helicopper 1,050]

I think it is very telling that the majority of topics listed by people for additional training are "operations" related and only receive cursory coverage in the State curriculum (5 hours for all of it). This superficial attention should cause EMS agencies to spend substantially more time on these topics during new hire orientations/field training (and volunteers are "new hires" too). Two whole hours in the curriculum are dedicated to haz-mat awareness.

It receives even less time in the refresher so it is entirely appropriate to focus on such subjects in continuing education programs.