beginning an EMTBasic Course in September

[rockyfortune]

I'm preparing by taking a CPR course for healtcare pro's and a first air course also..what else should I be brushing up on? I will preface my question by saying I am going into this inexperienced as I am a previously laid off IT professional...My goal is to be an EMT then a Paramedic with the fire dept or local hospital...

 

[joshrunkle35]

When I did basic, it really helped me to go through all of the basic definitions and acronyms. I got a book (possibly from Kaplan?) that had all of that info like: ALS = Advanced Life Support, CSF= Cerebral Spinal Fluid, etc. anatomy, physiology and medical terminology will always help.

 

[rockyfortune]

any suggestions on the best book to be prepared? It starts in september but I am really motivated to do well and want a head start.

thanks for all your input.

 

[NomadicMedic]

The book your class is using might be a good start. Call the instructor and ask if you can purchase a textbook early.

 

[Mariemt]

The book your class is using might be a good start. Call the instructor and ask if you can purchase a textbook early.

I agree. I would get the book ahead. Start chapters.

Don't get into the als stuff. That's beyond what you need to know as a basic.

I would recommend really hitting respiratory and ventilation and cardiac. People have the hardest time here.

Also, poisoning and drugs, which drugs cause certain symptoms. Miosis etc.
That hit a few students hard.
Brush up on terminology .

 

[PaddyWagon]

If you're from IT you'll have an easier time with assessment algorithms =) speaking from the standpoint of a programmer who just did this. But I had a background in bio and pre med so I emphasize any advice to work on vocabulary and acronyms as being your biggest ROI here.

 

[rockyfortune]

if you don't mind me asking..are you moving into being an EMT full time and leaving the programming world or is this a part time gig for you?

 

[joshrunkle35]

Another really important note: you will either find the friends who want to go out for beers after class or the friends who want to study after class. Try to find the latter.

 

[PaddyWagon]

if you don't mind me asking..are you moving into being an EMT full time and leaving the programming world or is this a part time gig for you?

For me it's a potential sideline. I always had a deep interest in biomed but never could indulge, when I turned 50 I decided to I'm not actively employed as an EMT right now, but I'm keeping up to date with activities like next month I'm a casualty in a disaster exercise with some of my class and the the hospital I did my clinical at. Which reminds me, if anyone is working the flip side of that say hi to the tall, old guy bleeding on the quad.

 

[lanceavil]

You don't really need to take a first aid class, BLS for HP is enough, and you'll learn all that again anyways so theres no need to waste money. I would recommend looking online, they have free medical terminology classes. I need a few more posts to give links, but they should be pretty easy to find with a quick google search. A&P will definitly help, the mini-crash-course they give you isn't really enough. They might have online A&P classes too.

 

[rockyfortune]

forgive my ignorance...What is A&P? agreed..decided to skip the cpr and stuff right now--and wait for my class..thanks for the response.

 

[lanceavil]

forgive my ignorance...What is A&P? agreed..decided to skip the cpr and stuff right now--and wait for my class..thanks for the response.

Anatomy and physiology, and you need your AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers card to get in the class, I was referring more to the first aid and all that. Pathophysiology classes couldn't hurt either. They aren't pre-reqs or anything but they really don't hurt.

 

[Medic Tim]

Anatomy and physiology, and you need your AHA BLS for Healthcare Providers card to get in the class, I was referring more to the first aid and all that. Pathophysiology classes couldn't hurt either. They aren't pre-reqs or anything but they really don't hurt.

Some EMT programs have the hcp CPR course as part of the class.