American Heart Association (AHA) Curriculum
Requirements
- Heart Saver First Aid & AED: The Heart saver first aid course provides first responders with training in basic first aid procedures-including the first aid skills recommended by OSHA. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
- BLS—Basic Life Support (BLS): Healthcare Provider: BLS has been proven to be the key to resuscitation. The courses are video-enhanced and designed to provide rescuers the ability to recognize and initiate management for several life-threatening emergencies, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an AED and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This course is 4.5 contact or clock hours.
- BLS—Basic Life Support Recertification: The course is comprised of retraining that focus on BLS information that has been proven to be the key to resuscitation. The courses are video-enhanced and designed to provide rescuers the ability to recognize and initiate management for several life-threatening emergencies, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use an AED and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This course is 3.5 contact or clock hours.
- ACLS—Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Initial: The course is comprised of training that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill adult patients. This course emphasizes the evaluation and management of the first 10 minutes of a pulseless arrest noting the importance of basic life support (CPR) to patient survival, integration of effective basic life support with ACLS interventions and the importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 12 contact or clock hours.
- ACLS—Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Recertification: The course is comprised of retraining that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill adult patients. This course emphasizes the evaluation and management of the first 10 minutes of a pulseless arrest noting the importance of basic life support (CPR) to patient survival, integration of effective basic life support with ACLS interventions and the importance of effective team interaction and communication during resuscitation. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
- PALS—Pediatric Advanced Life Support Initial: The course is comprised of training that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill infants and children. The course uses a scenario-based, team approach to teach pediatric emergency management of pediatric patients approaching or already in respiratory or cardiac arrest. The course covers treatment beyond the first few emergency minutes and goes through stabilizing patients or transport phases of a pediatric emergency, in or out of the hospital. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 16 contact or clock hours.
- PALS—Pediatric Advanced Life Support Recertification: The course is comprised of retraining that focus on information for healthcare professionals who initiate and direct advanced life support in critically ill infants and children. The course uses a scenario-based, team approach to teach pediatric emergency management of pediatric patients approaching or already in respiratory or cardiac arrest. The course covers treatment beyond the first few emergency minutes and goes through stabilizing patients or transport phases of a pediatric emergency, in or out of the hospital. The course includes simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
National Association of Emergency Medical Technician (NAEMT) Curriculum:
Requirements
PHTLS—Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support: This course is based on a pre-hospital trauma care philosophy, stressing the treatment of the multi-system trauma patient as a unique entity with specific needs. This may require an approach to the trauma patient that varies from traditional treatment modalities. PHTLS promotes critical thinking as the foundation for providing quality care. It is based on the belief that, given a good fund of knowledge and key principles, EMS practitioners are capable of making reasoned decisions regarding patient care. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 16 contact or clock hours
TFR—Trauma First Response: This course is a one-day continuing education course that teaches the principles of Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) to non-EMS practitioners, including first responders, police officers, firefighters, rescue personnel and safety officers. It helps them prepare to care for trauma patients while serving as part of a transport team or awaiting a transport provider. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
AMLS—Advanced Medical Life Support: This course is for all levels of practitioners including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists and physicians. The course emphasizes the use of scene size-up, history, interactive group discussion on potential treatment strategies, and physical exam to systematically rule out and consider possibilities and probabilities in treating patients’ medical crises. This course includes the following topics: altered mental status and neurologic disorders, respiratory dysfunction, shock, chest discomfort, endocrine, metabolic and environmental disorders, abdominal discomfort, infectious disease, and toxicological emergencies, hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 16 contact or clock hours.
TCCC— Tactical Combat Casualty Care: This course introduces evidence-based, life-saving techniques and strategies for providing the best trauma care on the battlefield, under the auspices of the PHTLS program. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 16 contact or clock hours.
LEFR—Law Enforcement First Response: This course teaches public safety first responders including police, other law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders the basic medical care interventions that will help save an injured responder’s life until EMS practitioners can safely enter a tactical scene. It combines the principles of PHTLS and TCCC. Classes are offered on the Miami Shores and Pembroke Pines sites. This course is 8 contact or clock hours.
Emergency Medical Technician Curriculum
EMT—Emergency Medical Technician
Requirements
This is a 15‑week-long training program leading to a Certificate of Completion. The program consists of a total of 312 contact or clock hours (20.8 contact or clock hours per week).
The course, approved by the State of Florida’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, provides preparation for the EMT certification exam and has been designed to exceed the minimum requirements set forth by the State of Florida. Instructional methods include classroom lectures, interactive skills labs with skills instruction and demonstration, externships—observational and participatory ride-time on fire-rescue units and ambulances (students primarily observe, but may be called upon to participate during crisis situations) and internships—observing and participating in life-saving stabilization techniques in hospital emergency room settings.
Course Descriptions
EMT 091 Lecture
Prerequisite: CPR certificate; High School Diploma or equivalent. This course is designed to introduce EMT concepts and clinical skills and integrate them with beginning basic life support applications. Emphasis is placed on EMS Systems, illness and injury prevention, medical-legal issues, patient assessment, airway management and ventilation, pathophysiology, pharmacology, as well as shock and decision making regarding appropriate interventions for identified problems. Must be passed with grade of C or higher. Classes offered on the Pembroke Pines and Palm Beach Gardens sites. EMT 091 Lecture is 96 contact or clock hours.
EMT 091 Interactive Lecture
Prerequisite: CPR certificate; High School Diploma or equivalent. This course is designed to provide students with access to interactive and multimodal learning methods aimed at increasing their comprehension of concepts and skills introduced in the lecture part of the course. Emphasis is placed on EMS Systems, illness and injury prevention, medical-legal issues, patient assessment, airway management and ventilation, pathophysiology, pharmacology, shock and decision making regarding appropriate interventions for identified problems. Must be passed with grade of C or higher. Classes offered on the Pembroke Pines and Palm Beach Gardens sites. EMT (091) Interactive Lecture is 44 contact or clock hours.
EMT 091L Lab
Prerequisites CPR certificate. Co-Requisite, EMT091, EMT143. This course is designed to reinforce concepts and clinical skills learned during the EMT level lecture and to integrate this knowledge with beginning basic life support concepts and skills. The laboratory exercises include a review of EMT skills, patient assessment, airway management, basic medication administration, splinting/bandaging and triaging patients. Must be passed with a C or higher. Classes offered on the Pembroke Pines and Palm Beach Gardens sites. EMT (09L) Lab is 96 contact or clock hours.
EMT 143 Field Rides
Prerequisites CPR certificate, Co-requisite EMT 091, EMT-091L, this course is designed to provide the student with initial field ride experiences which fosters the development of leadership skills, expands and further develops clinical skills, and allows for the Student observer to participate in BLS emergencies. Must be passed with a C or higher. EMT (143) Ambulance/Fire Rescue Ride Times 60 contact or clock hours offered through public and private ambulance and fire rescue organizations in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Coral Gables, Davie, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Village of Islands, Key Biscayne, Key West, and Miramar, Florida.
EMT 143 Hospital Clinical
Prerequisites CPR certificate. Co-Requisite, EMT 091 and EMT091L. This course provides an opportunity for each student to develop competency in clinical skills within the hospital setting. This module stresses the integration of basic technical skills, patient assessment techniques, application of basic life support skills and techniques. The clinical experiences include emergency departments, possible medical examiner’s office (autopsy), geriatric and mental health facilities. Must be passed with a C or higher. EMT (143) Hospital Clinical is 16 contact or clock hours offered at hospitals in Ft. Lauderdale, Weston, Hollywood, Miami, and Tamarac, Florida.