Emergency Medical Responder

Course Structure & Requirements

• Duration: Typically 40 to 60 hours, often combining online didactic learning with hands-on, in-person skills practice.
• Prerequisites: Generally requires candidates to be at least 16–18 years old and hold a current CPR/BLS certification.
• Certification: To earn the credential, you must pass a state-approved education program, verify BLS psychomotor skills, and pass the NREMT cognitive exam

Core Curriculum Topics

• The course teaches you how to manage a scene, assess patients, and treat life-threatening emergencies using minimal, basic equipment: 
  • Airway Management & Breathing: Opening airways, utilizing basic airway adjuncts (like oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways), and delivering oxygen/ventilation with a Bag-Valve Mask (BVM). 
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): High-quality CPR and operating an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
  • Patient Assessment: Performing primary and secondary assessments to identify immediate life threats (e.g., bleeding, shock) and gather vital signs.
  • Trauma Care: Controlling severe bleeding, applying tourniquets, treating shock, stabilizing spinal injuries, and basic splinting. 
  • Medical Emergencies: Recognizing and assisting with medical emergencies such as allergic reactions, diabetic crises, and poisonings.
  • Operations: Understanding EMS system roles, transferring patient care to higher-level personnel (like EMTs or Paramedics), and safety protocols.