We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Coursera logo

EMT Foundations

Angela Wright, MD, Whitney Barrett, MD, Arthur Pliaconis, and Kathrine Lopez

In this course, you will get a thorough introduction to the emergency medical services system, and learn the foundation components to how it works as a whole. You will also learn the nuts and bolts of becoming a healthcare provider, and gain some basic knowledge about the human body. By the end of the course, you will be able to 1) understand the history and components of the EMS system, 2) speak the language of medicine with basic medical terminology, as well as have an understanding of basic human anatomy, 3) understand the different types of communications and how they are specific to EMS, 4) take vital signs and master the normal from the abnormal, and 5) master personal and scene safety, and begin the process of patient assessment.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
In this module, you will learn about the nuts and bolts of the emergency medical services system. We will cover some brief history of EMS, as well as breakdown the different components of the system. There will be discussion about some of the medical and legal issues that are persistent in the practice of prehospital medicine. We will also address workplace safety and provider wellness, because you cannot take care of other people unless you are learning to take care of yourself!
Read more
Basic Human Anatomy
In this module, we will learn a new language. This module will cover basic medical terminology and some tips and tricks for “talking the talk.” This is also where we will cover the basics of anatomy of the human body! We will teach you the basics of human anatomy of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, abdominal, neurologic and endocrine system.
Communication With A Healthcare Provider
Essential to emergency medical services is communication. This module will discuss the various parts of the job that require communication and the different strategies to employ clear and concise communication. You will learn about the SBAR method of hand off reports, learn how to successfully communicate with patients, and we will cover some pearls and pitfalls to communicating within the EMS system.
Vital Signs and History Taking
Here we will cover vital signs, and learn about why they are vital! We will be teaching you how to take a blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse, and assess a patient’s skin. We will also learn about taking a history during a patient encounter, and learn some standard approaches to this including the OPQRST and AMPLE templates of history taking.
Immediately Upon Arrival To The Scene
In this last module, we will be discussing some bread and butter components of EMS. The first is scene safety and assessment of a scene. Then we will cover the complete assessment of a medical patient, and a trauma patient, using the national registry as our guideline. By the end of this, you will know how to communicate with patients and how to perform a thorough assessment of any patient you may encounter.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Introduces the emergency medical services system, providing a foundation for understanding its components and operations
Provides a comprehensive overview of basic human anatomy, covering the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, pulmonary, abdominal, neurological, and endocrine systems
Covers various communication strategies and methods used in prehospital medicine, including the SBAR method, patient communication, and system-specific communication
Discusses vital signs, their importance, and how to accurately measure blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse, as well as assessing skin
Teaches the procedures for arriving at the scene, including safety assessment, patient assessment, and history taking, following national registry guidelines
Emphasizes personal and scene safety, addressing essential workplace safety and provider wellness practices

Save this course

Save EMT Foundations to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Ems knowledge foundation

Learners say this EMT foundations course is an introduction to emergency medical services. It covers the basics of being an EMT and students have said that this course can help them decide if they are willing to pursue this as a career. The course is well received by learners, and students have said that it provided them with a good overview of the EMT profession and a basic understanding of anatomy and emergency medical techniques. However, some students have mentioned that the course could be improved by providing more opportunities to test their knowledge.
Some learners have said that this course helped them decide if they wanted to pursue a career in emergency medical services.
"The course gives a great overview into the EMT profession and helped me figure out if I am willing to pursue this career."
"I have learnt a lot of intresting things about how the human body is built up and how it works."
"I have been working as a paramedic around 20 years..."
"The knowledge covered by this course is a fantastic place to start for someone just entertaining the idea of becoming an EMT..."
The information taught in this course has helped learners develop foundational knowledge.
"it was great "
"Learners say the course provides foundational knowledge for EMTs, including a good overview of the profession and basic understanding of anatomy and emergency medical techniques.."
"This course was full of basic information needed to complete the education needed to become and EMT."
"This course teach me a lot how to handle a patient when you they are in need of help..."
This course has an organized structure that is easy to follow.
"This course was useful in reviewing the concepts I learned as a student nurse."
"This course was very thorough and easy to follow."
"This is a great introduction to the Coursera Specialization where it belongs, providing fundamental information and principles..."
"This course is perfectly planned with the student's success in mind."
Learners have commented that the instructors are knowledgeable and engaging.
"The presenters were very informed and the information was delivered in a very structured and easy-to-follow manner."
"The facilitators of this course make learning a huge delight."
"An excellent course with great instructors!"
"This course was one of the best I've ever done. Teachers are impressively good..."
EMT Foundations is a well-structured course that provides foundational knowledge for those interested in becoming EMTs.
"I enjoyed the presentations which were easily understandable!"
"The full spectrum of 'basics' seems to have been covered..."
"This course was really interesting,loved every moment of it."
"This course was really interesting,loved every moment of it."

Career center

Learners who complete EMT Foundations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Occupational Therapist
The EMT Foundations course can help you build a strong foundation for this role. The course covers basic medical terminology, human anatomy, and patient assessment. This knowledge would be valuable to you as an occupational therapist, as it would help you to better understand the physical and cognitive needs of your patients.
Speech-Language Pathologist
The EMT Foundations course can provide critical foundational knowledge for this role. The course covers basic medical terminology, human anatomy, and patient assessment. This knowledge would be valuable in this role, as it would enable you to better understand the communication needs of your patients.
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
The EMT Foundations course can provide foundational knowledge of the medical field. This course covers basic medical terminology, human anatomy, and patient assessment. This knowledge may be helpful in this role, as it would aid comprehension of technical information and enable more effective communication with healthcare providers.
Physician Assistant
The EMT Foundations course can be a helpful foundation for this role. The course covers basic medical terminology, anatomy, vital signs, and patient assessment. This knowledge would be valuable to you in this role, as it would better prepare you for assisting with patient care and medical procedures.
Medical Writer
The EMT Foundations course can help you build a strong foundation for this job. The course covers basic medical terminology, human anatomy, and patient assessment. This knowledge would be valuable to you in this role because it would help you to write clear and accurate medical content.
Health Educator
The EMT Foundations course covers basic medical terminology, human anatomy, and patient assessment. This knowledge would be valuable to you in this role, as it would help you to better understand the health topics you are teaching and the needs of your audience.
Healthcare Administrator
The EMT Foundations course provides an overview of the healthcare system. The course covers topics such as the history of EMS, the different components of the EMS system, and the roles of different healthcare providers. This knowledge would be valuable to you in this role, as it would help you to better understand the healthcare system and how to manage it effectively.
Medical Device Sales Representative
The EMT Foundations course can provide you with foundational knowledge of the healthcare industry. This course covers basic medical terminology, human anatomy, and patient assessment. This knowledge would be valuable to you in this role, as it would help you to better understand the products you are selling and the needs of your customers.
Certified Nursing Assistant
The Certified Nursing Assistant role is a great option for those interested in providing direct patient care. The EMT Foundations course can help you build a foundation for this job by providing a basic understanding of the human body, medical terminology, and patient assessment.
Patient Care Technician
The Patient Care Technician (PCT) role is a great choice for those interested in gaining hands-on experience in a variety of healthcare settings. The EMT Foundations course can help you build a foundation for this job by providing you with basic medical terminology, vital signs, and patient assessment knowledge.
Emergency Medical Dispatcher
The EMT Foundations course provides foundational knowledge of the EMS system. It can help one build a foundation for becoming a reliable Emergency Medical Dispatcher. Emergency Medical Dispatchers often rely on medical terminology to communicate with patients, and this course covers basic medical terminology and anatomy.
Medical Assistant
Medical Assistants are responsible for providing administrative and clinical support to healthcare providers, and they may also assist with patient care. The EMT Foundations course covers vital signs, medical terminology, and patient assessment, which could make you a more competitive candidate for this role.
Firefighter
Firefighters are often the first responders to emergency situations. The knowledge and skills provided by the EMT Foundations course, such as vital signs, patient assessment, and scene safety, can be an advantage. EMT training can be helpful in obtaining employment in this field.
Registered Nurse
The EMT Foundations course can help you build a foundation for a career as a Registered Nurse. As a Registered Nurse, you would provide medical care to patients of all ages, provide patient education, and administer medication. This course introduces you to the emergency medical services system, which would be helpful in the field.
Paramedic
The EMT Foundations course covers those medical terminology. With additional training and experience, you could become a paramedic. Some of the duties of a Paramedic include, assessing injuries, administering medication, and transporting patients to the hospital. This course may be useful in helping you build a foundation.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in EMT Foundations.
This textbook comprehensive and authoritative guide to paramedic training and practice, and is written by experts in the field.
This textbook comprehensive and authoritative guide to emergency medicine, and is written by experts in the field. It provides detailed information on the diagnosis and management of medical emergencies, and valuable resource for EMTs and paramedics.
This textbook standard resource for EMT and paramedic training, and covers a wide range of topics related to emergency medical care, including patient assessment, treatment, and transportation.
This textbook comprehensive guide to EMT training and practice, and covers a wide range of topics related to emergency medical care, including patient assessment, treatment, and transportation.
While this book goes beyond the scope of this course, it can be a useful reference for the assessment and treatment of trauma patients.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Here are nine courses similar to EMT Foundations.
Introductory Human Physiology
The Human Body's Communication Systems
Design of High-Performance Optical Systems
Healthcare Marketplace
Automobile Chassis Frame Structure | 汽车底盘构造
Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology Fundamentals
Medical Terminology and the Human Body Fundamentals
Medical Terminology I
Gateway to Medicine: An Introduction to the Field of...
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser