BLCAD First Responder Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
Title: First Responder
Class Dates: Nov 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, and 30th.
Class Times: Lectures: 1800 to 2200
Practical labs will be incorporated into regular class sessions.
Class Location: Barry Lawrence County Ambulance District, training room.
Lead Instructor: Andy McCaslin, EMT-P, amccaslin@barrylawrenceambulance.com.
Other staff will also instruct.
Office Hours: 30 minutes before each class
Telephone: (417) 235-7060. Ask them to page me if necessary.
Text: Brady: First responder, A Skills Approach, seventh edition. Limmer, Karren, Hafen.
Copyright 2007
Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers, American Heart Association, 2006
Course Description: This is an introductory course to emergency medical care for individuals that
in the course of their normal duties are likely to be the first individual on scene of a medical
emergency. The course will cover what should be done until the ambulance unit arrives and will
include CPR, an overview of EMS Systems, basic airway management, patient assessment,
circulation and automatic defibrillation, illness and injury prevention, child birth and children and
scene operations. This 32 hour (minimum) course is consistent with U.S. Department of
Transportation’s 1995 First Responder: national Standard Curriculum.
Course Objectives: At the completion of this course, the student will integrate the knowledge,
skills, and attitude necessary to be a competent, productive and valuable member of the emergency
medical service team, by providing initial emergency medical care.
Prerequisites: 1) Students must be at least 18 years of age at course completion. 2) Students must
be affiliated with, sponsored by, and pre-selected by the fire department or public service agency
they are affiliated with.
Course Requirements: Successful completion of this course is based on the following: a passing
score on quizzes & examinations based on assigned readings and lectures group and individual
practical skills evaluations class participation.
Throughout the course there will be:
1. Seven daily quizzes that will be worth about 7% of your total grade each.
2. Practical labs. Attendance and participation in each practical lab will be required.
3. A final practical examination that will include evaluation of First Responder skills and be worth
25% of your grade.
4. A final written examination that will be worth 25% of your grade.
5. You will be allowed to “drop” one quiz score.
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BLCAD First Responder Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
6. At the completion of the class, you must return the text book and the accompanying CD in good,
re-useable condition.
Grading Scale: The student’s final percentage grade will be based on the number of points earned
by the student compared to the total number of possible points.
Letter grades will be based on the following scale:
90% -100% A
80% - 89% B
70% - 79% C
0% - 69% F You MUST score 70% or better to complete this class.
Attendance Policy: This is a practical hands-on course that requires regular attendance to learn the
proper techniques and procedures caring for people who have a medical or trauma related
condition. Excessive absences will be cause for instructor initiated withdrawal from the class.
There will be no mechanism for making-up missed lectures or practical labs.
Make-up Policy: All students will turn in assignments and take exams on the dates listed in the
syllabus. A zero will be awarded for any late assignments or missed exams unless prior
arrangements have been made with the instructor.
Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable behavior. Any student suspected of
cheating or plagiarism will receive a zero for the quiz or exam in question.
Agenda
Nov 2nd
Nov 3rd
Preparatory
Chapter 1: Introduction to the EMS system
Chapter 2: Well-being of the First Responder
Chapter 3: Legal and Ethical Issues
Chapter 4: The Human Body
Chapter 5: Lifting and Moving Patients
Skills: Backboard and KED
Overview of the ambulances
Airway
Chapter 6: Breathing and Ventilation
Chapter 7: Airway care and Maintenance
Circulation
Chapter 8: Circulation
Chapter 9: Automatic External Defibrillation
Skills: Oxygen tanks, cannulas and masks, BVM,
pocket masks
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BLCAD First Responder Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
CPR
Oral airway and Nasal airway
Nov 9th
Nov 10th
Patient Assessment
Chapter 10:
Chapter 11:
Chapter 12:
Chapter 13:
Scene Size Up
Introduction to Patient Assessment & Vital signs
Patient Assessment
Communication and Documentation
Illness and Injury
Medical Emergencies
Chapter 14: Cardiac and respiratory emergencies
Chapter 15: Medical Emergencies
Chapter 16: Environmental Emergencies
Chapter 17: Psychological Emergencies And Crisis Intervention
Skills: Vital Signs
Suctioning
Review and practice skills
CPR – Guest Lecturer: Richard Pierce
American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR.
Nov 16th
Bleeding and Soft Tissue Injuries
Chapter 18: Bleeding and Shock
Chapter 19: Soft Tissue Injuries
Chapter 20: Injuries to the Chest, Abdomen, and Genitalia
Chapter 21: Burn Emergencies
Chapter 22: Agricultural and Industrial Emergencies
Skills: Bleeding control
Bandaging
Nov 17th
Injuries to Muscle and Bone
Chapter 23: Injuries to the head, face, and neck
Chapter 24: Injuries to the Spine
Chapter 25: Musculoskeletal Injuries
Skills: Splinting
Nov 23rd
Childbirth and Children
Chapter 26: Childbirth
Chapter 27: Infants and children
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BLCAD First Responder Course Syllabus
Fall 2009
Geriatric
Chapter 28: Geriatric Patients
Nov 24th
Nov 30th
EMS Operations
Chapter 29:
Chapter 30:
Chapter 31:
Chapter 32:
Chapter 33:
Chapter 34:
EMS Operations
Hazardous Materials Incidents and Emergencies
Multiple-Casualty Incidents and Incident Command
Water Emergencies
Vehicle Stabilization and Patient Extrication
Special Rescue Situations
Skills: Review and practice skills
Summary and Review
Practical and Written Tests
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