PHTLS Training Course: NAEMT's Prehospital Trauma Life Support Class

NAEMT's Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) is recognized worldwide as the leading continuing education program for prehospital emergency trauma care, making it a vital part of EMT training. The mission of PHTLS is to promote excellence in trauma patient management by all providers involved in the delivery of prehospital care. PHTLS is developed by NAEMT in cooperation with the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma.

PHTLS courses improve the quality of trauma care and decrease mortality rates. This program is grounded in a philosophy that emphasizes treating the multi-system trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. PHTLS encourages critical thinking as the foundation for providing quality care, based on the belief that with a solid knowledge base and key principles, EMS practitioners can make informed decisions regarding patient care.

The course utilizes the internationally recognized PHTLS textbook and covers essential topics such as:

- Physiology of life and death

- Scene assessment

- Patient assessment

- Hemorrhage control

- Airway

- Breathing, ventilation, and oxygenation

- Circulation and shock

- Special populations

The course emphasizes practical application of trauma education through case studies, skills practice, and patient simulations.

PHTLS is considered the global gold standard in prehospital trauma education, making it suitable for EMTs, paramedics, nurses, physician assistants, physicians, and other prehospital practitioners. Additionally, PHTLS is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

Provider Course: This 16-hour course is designed for EMTs, paramedics, nurses, physician assistants, physicians, and other prehospital providers. Upon successful completion, students receive a certificate of completion, a wallet card recognizing them as PHTLS providers for four years, and 16 hours of CAPCE credit. This course can be offered as a traditional classroom course or a hybrid format, where students complete 8 hours online followed by 8 hours in the classroom.

Refresher Course: This 8-hour classroom course is for individuals who have successfully completed the 16-hour PHTLS provider course within the last four years. A current PHTLS provider certificate or wallet card is required. Upon completion of the course, students receive a certificate of completion and 8 hours of CAPCE credit.