EMT-I
Many emergency medical providers in rural areas saw a need for another level of certification that would give their volunteer personnel an opportunity to learn certain advanced life support skills. The EMT-I course began as a result of this need. The role of the EMT-I is one of authority when working with a EMT-B and one of support when working with a paramedic.
Many emergency medical providers in rural areas saw a need for another level of certification that would give their volunteer personnel an opportunity to learn certain advanced life support skills. The EMT-I course began as a result of this need. The role of the EMT-I is one of authority when working with a EMT-B and one of support when working with a paramedic.
EMT-I’s are authorized to perform any of the basic life support skills. In addition, they may perform the following intermediate life support skills under the supervision of a medical control physician:
Esophageal obturator airway application
Esophageal gastric tube airway application
Nasotracheal intubation
Endotracheal intubation
Combi-tube airway
Pharyngeal tracheal lumen airway
Intravenous therapy (peripheral, external jugular or intra osseous)
Sterile suctioning (endotracheal)
Chem strip analysis
EMT-I’s must also be members of an licensed EMT service that is licensed to provide intermediate extended or advanced life support.
Each EMT-I candidate must meet the following course entrance requirements:
Must be a current South
Carolina certified EMT-B and must maintain this status throughout the entire EMT-I
course.
Must be an active member of a South Carolina licensed EMS service which has
communication with a physician twenty-four hours a day.
Must have a qualifying score (less than four years old) of 110
(73%) on the SC EMT-Basic certification examination or the NR EMT-Basic
examination - PLUS - have a qualifying HOBET score of 42% on the composite - OR
- if their state or NR score is less than 110 and/or more than four years old,
the EMT must have a qualifying HOBET score of 42% on composite AND 42% on the
reading comprehension.
Must be recommended by the medical control physician who will supervise
and utilize the EMT-I’s skills.
In order to obtain state certification, the EMT-I student must:
a. Attend the required number of classes to ensure that all attendance requirements are met.
b. Complete all in-course examinations with an average grade of 70 percent or higher.
c. Successfully complete the National Registry written examination.
d. Successfully complete the National Registry practical skills examination.
e. Must have current BLS card by the end of the course.
The EMT-I course is taught from the Department of Transportation's current intermediate curriculum. The initial course consists of eighty hours of instruction, of which sixty-four hours are theory, and sixteen hours are clinical.
Didactic material is
presented as follows:
(The italicized topics are EMT-B core curriculum material.)
Orientation 4 hours
Ambulance run report form
Laws of consent, abandonment, negligence
Do not resuscitate orders (DNR)
Roles and responsibilities
Medical terminology
Reporting and communications
Patient Assessment 12 hours
Anatomy and physiology of the heart
Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system
Signs and symptoms, vital signs
New assessment skills
Didactic and skills practice
Advanced Airway Management 12 hours
Anatomy/physiology
Assessment
Respiratory mechanics
Basic airway management
Advanced airway management
EOA, EGTA, PTL, Combi-tube, Endotracheal tube, Nasotracheal tube,
sterile suctioning
Basic/Advanced airway management
Practice skills and check off
Shock/Trauma 16 hours
Trauma to the chest (blunt and penetrating)
Trauma to the abdomen (blunt and penetrating)
Head injuries
Spinal column/cord injuries
Hemorrhage control/soft tissue injuries
Musculoskeletal system/fractures and dislocations
Pathophysiology of shock
Shock treatment
Fluids
Intravenous therapy
Interosseous therapy
Pneumatic anti-shock garment
Practice skills and check off
Medical Emergencies 8 hours
CPR and obstructed airway
Hyperthermic conditions
Hypothermic conditions
Seizures
Burns
Drowning/diving emergencies
OB/GYN emergencies
Diabetic emergencies
Cerebrovascular accident
Anaphylaxis
Dialysis emergencies
Cardio-respiratory
Environmental
Behavioral
OB/GYN/Pediatrics/Neonatal
Transition Skills 8 hours
AED
Patient assisted medications
Auto-injectors
Basic skills review
Basic Skills Review Session 4 hours
Didactic Total 60 hours
Clinical 16 hours
Total 80 hours