Jordan University of Science and Technology
Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences
Department of Allied Medical Sciences
Paramedic Program
2013 / 2014
Course Syllabus
Course Code
Course Information
Paramedic Management of Infectious, Toxicological, and
Environmental Emergencies
Para 403
Prerequisites
Med 242, Para 303
Course Website
E learning
Instructor
Rawan Tawalbeh
Course Title
Office Location
Office Phone #
NA
Office Hours
E-mail
Ratawalbeh8@just.edu.jo
Teaching
Assistant(s)
Course Description
This course covers the management of patients with a range of challenging
etiologies such as extremes in environmental conditions, toxicological
emergencies including overdose and poisoning, and acute infectious diseases.
Also, it covers response to terrorist acts and management of disasters.
Topics include epidemiology, phathophysiology, assessment and clinical
management of patients with toxicological, infectious, and environmental
illnesses; in addition to EMS’s considerations in the response to terrorist and
disasters.
This course also provides an introduction to hazardous materials incidents
Title (1)
Textbook
Paramedic Practice Today
Author(s)
Barbara Aehlert (Ed.)
Publisher
Mosby JEMS Elsevier
Year
2010
Edition
Volume 2
Book Website
http://evolve.elsevier.com/Aehlert/paramedic
Title (2)
Essentials of Paramedic Care
Author(s)
Publisher
Year
Edition
Book website
Bryan E. Bledsoe, Robert S. Porter, Richard A. Cherry
Brady
2007
2nd Edition
NA
Title (3)
Author(s)
Publisher
Year
Edition
Book website
Basic Infection Control for Health Care Providers
Mike Kennamer
Thomson Delmar Learning
2007
2nd Edition
Other references
Hand outs.
Article provided by the course instructor:
Barbera, J.A., Macintry, A. (1996). Urban Search and Rescue.
Disaster Medicine. 14(2): 399-409.
Assessment
Assessment
First exam
Second exam
LAB
Expected Due Date
Percentage
20%
20%
20%
Final exam (theory)
27%%
Final Practical
13%
Total
100%
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Course Objectives
This course will cover infectious diseases in the prehospital
environment.
This course will cover infection control principles in the
prehospital environment.
This course will cover common toxic and overdose emergencies
and its management in the prehospital environment.
This course will cover concepts of Hazardous Materials and its
management in the prehospital environment.
This course will cover extreme environmental emergencies and its
management in the prehospital environment.
This course will give an introduction about disaster management
and its prehospital emergency care considerations.
This course will encourage the engagement of evidence-based
practice.
Percentage
15%
15%
15%
15%
20%
10%
10%
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Teaching & Learning Methods
Objectives of the course will be achieved through class lectures / presentations, and
case studies: Learning by examples.
Skills as founded in the theoretical material will be demonstrated and discussed in a
laboratory environment over the semester.
Students are highly encouraged to attend ALL lab hours and participate effectively.
Once a student misses lab hours during a week, he or she can make up with the other
lab hours of that same week with the arrangement with the course coordinator.
As possible, a guest speaker will be invited to weigh his experience in.
'E learning' will be integrated.
Students are highly encouraged to participate in the content of course subjects by
preparing flash cards of assigned subjects.
You are responsible for all material covered in the class.
Your engagement during lectures is essential; discussions are highly encouraged.
Please communicate any concerns or issues as soon as possible either in class, by
phone or by E-mail.
Teaching duration:
 Duration: 15 weeks, two lectures per week.
 Lectures: 22 lectures, 60 minutes each, does not include exam days
and revisions.
 Guest speaker: Possibly 1 lecture.
 Laboratory: Two hours per week. Total of 7 labs distributed over the
semester, corresponding with the material.
Assignment: Flash Cards
In the first day, students will be assigned into groups; each group will take the responsibility of
four (4) infectious diseases. Each group must prepare flash cards for each infectious disease and
make copies for the rest of their classmates.
The cards mush contain the following:
The causative agent, body systems affected and potential
secondary complications, routes of transmission, susceptibility and
resistances, signs and symptoms, patient management and protective
measures and immunization.
The goal of this assignment is to ease studying infectious diseases despite their numerous
quantities.
Each group is responsible on submitting these flash cards by Sep.30, which is the day/week of
infectious disease in this course.
This assignment weighs 5% of the total grade.
Diseases of concern:
AIDS
Anthrax
Avian Flu
Botulism
Chickenpox
Clostridium difficile
Escherichia coli
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis Non-ABC
Influenza
Lice
Measles
Meningococcal Meningitis
Mumps
Gonorrhea
Staphylococcus-aureus
(MRSA)
Pertussis
Plague
Pneumonia
Rabies
Rubella
Croup
Scabies
Severe acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS)
Gastroenteritis
Syphilis
Tetanus
Tuberculosis
Sinusitis
Hantavirus
Food Poisoning
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
Reference(s)
Related Objective(s)
Handouts
Understand and discuss the etiology of common infectious
1
diseases and its pathophysiology.
Understand and discuss infection control considerations for
2
prehospital emergency care.
Demonstrate an understanding of the up-to-date emergency
3 management for infectious diseases and inflammatory responses
incidents in the prehospital environment.
Understand and describe the etiology and pathophysiology of
4
selective environmental emergencies.
Demonstrate an understanding of the up-to-date emergency
5
management for extreme environmental incidents.
Understand the medical issues associated with disaster
management and its considerations.
Understand the rules and responsibilities of EMS during disasters.
6
7
8
9
10
11
Understand the medical consequences of selective disasters
(earthquakes, floods, and nuclear disasters) and their EMS
management.
Understand and discuss the etiology of common toxic emergencies
and substance overdose and its pathophysiology.
Demonstrate an understanding of the up-to-date emergency
management for toxic and substance overdose/abuse incidents.
Understand the concepts of Hazardous Materials incidents and its
management.
Useful Resources
Scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals in EHS, disaster management, and
prehospital care.
Course Content
Week
1. a. (Sep. 22)
1. b. (Sep. 24)
2. a. (Sep. 29)
2. b (Oct. 1)
3. a. (Oct. 6)
3. b. (Oct. 8)
4 (Oct. 13-15)
4. a. (Oct. 20)
4. b. (Oct. 22)
5. a. (Oct. 27)
Topics
Introduction to course, discuss
syllabus, assign groups for flash cards
Introductory to infectious diseases
Chapter in Textbook
(handouts)
None
(2) Ch.37:
P. (1441-1448)
(2) Ch. 4:
P. (268-282)
(2) Ch. 31
Infection control in prehospital care I (2) Ch. 37:
P. (1449- 1454)
(3) Ch. 1, 5, 7, 8
Infection control in prehospital care II (2) Ch. 37:
P. (1449- 1454)
(3) Ch. 1, 5, 7, 8
Selected infectious diseases
(2) Ch. 37:
Flash cards
P. (1455- 1471)
(3) Appendix A.
(Handouts)
Assessment of patients, preventing
(2) Ch. 37:
disease transmission.
P. (1454-1455),
Drugs used to treat infectious diseases P. (1483-1484)
and inflammation
(2) Ch. 6:
P. (366-368)
Al-Adha Almobarak Break
Introduction of Environmental
(2) Ch. 36:
emergencies and pathophysiology
P. (1407-1416)
Heat disorders.
Case Studies.
Cold disorders.
(2) Ch. 36:
Case Studies.
P. (1416-1426)
Submersion injuries; drowning and
5. b. (Oct. 29)
6. a. (Nov. 3)
6. b. (Nov. 5)
7. a. (Nov. 10)
7. b. (Nov. 12)
8. a. (Nov. 17)
8. b. (Nov. 19)
associated conditions
First exam
Review of first exam
Introduction to Disasters
Introductory of Toxicology
Management of common Toxins (Part
I)
Management of common Toxins (Part
II)
Substance abuse and overdose and
drugs used to treat poisons and
overdoses/ Antidotes I
9. a. (Nov. 24)
Substance abuse and overdose and
drugs used to treat poisons and
overdoses/ Antidotes II
9. b. (Nov. 26)
Hazardous Materials principles
10.a. (Dec. 1)
Management of Hazardous Materials I
10.b. (Dec. 3)
Management of Hazardous Materials
II
11.a. (Dec. 8)
11.b. (Dec. 10)
12.a. (Dec. 15)
12.b. (Dec. 17)
Second exam
Review of second exam
Nuclear disasters and exposure II
Disaster response
SAR
Earthquake
Compartment syndrome
Nuclear disasters and exposure I
General Case Studies
General Case Studies
General Case Studies
13.a. (Dec. 22)
13.b. (Dec. 24)
14.a. (Dec. 29)
14.b. (Dec. 31)
15.a. (Jan. 5)
15.b. (Jan. 7)
16. (Jan. 1629/1/2014)
LAB Schedule
Week Date
General review.
Final exam
Content
First exam
(2) Ch. 34:
P. (1350-1355)
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1865- 1868)
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1356-1379)
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1356-1379)
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1380-1386)
P. 1355
(2) Ch. 6:
P. 370
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1380-1386)
P. 1355
(2) Ch. 6:
P. 370
(1) Ch. 64
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1857- 1865)
Hand outs
(1) Ch. 64
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1868-1872)
Hand outs(HazMat)
1) Ch. 64
(2) Ch. 48:
P. (1868-1872)
Second exam
Handouts
Handouts
Handouts
Handouts
Handouts
Handouts
Handouts
2
3
5
6
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
29, 1/9
6, 8/10
20, 22/10
27, 29/10
3, 5/11
10, 12/11
17, 19/11
24, 26/11
1, 3/12
8,10/12
22, 24/12
Drop date
Academic
integrity
Attendance
Handwashing techniques
PPE
Needle stick precautions
Isolation precautions
Case management: Environmental emergencies
Triage
MCI
Tools demonstration (Bonus)
Drug calculation lab (Bonus)
HAZ-MAT Drill
Revision
Additional Notes
Last day to drop the course is Dec. 27, 2012.
All graded clinical forms and documentations must be your own
work.
Helping other students to cheat in any way or form will not be
tolerated.
If we become aware of any violations of these rules, we will initiate
the actions described in the Policy of Academic Integrity.
Each student is responsible to have their daily documentations
signed by their preceptors at each department, unit, or station.
Excellent attendance is expected.
JUST policy requires the faculty member to assign ZERO grade (35) if
a student misses 10% of the classes without a valid excuse.
Attendances will be followed with each preceptor.
Week
1
2
3
Title of the Lecture
Introduction to course, discuss syllabus, assign groups
for flash cards.
Introductory to infectious diseases
Infection control in prehospital care
Selected infectious diseases: Flash cards
Assessment of patients, preventing disease transmission.
Drugs used to treat infectious diseases and inflammation.
6
Introduction of Environmental emergencies and
pathophysiology
Heat disorders.
Cold disorders.
Submersion injuries; drowning and associated conditions
First exam
Introduction to Disasters
7
Earthquake
Compartment syndrome
8
Nuclear disasters and exposure
9
Disaster response
4
5
Lecturer
Rawan
Tawalbeh
SAR
10
Introductory of Toxicology
Second exam
11
Management of common Toxins
12
Substance abuse and overdose
13
14
15
Hazardous Materials principles
Management of HazMat
Revision
Wish you all the best 
Rawan Tawalbeh, MS, BSN