About the EMT Textbook
The textbook used throughout the EMT Boot Camp is: Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured Digital Advantage Package, Twelfth Edition. Published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), this textbook provides the fundamental knowledge of the emergency medical services (EMS) system, safety and well-being of the emergency medical technician (EMT), and medical, legal, and ethical issues relevant to emergency care. Each chapter covers National EMS Education Standard Competencies.
Chapters Covered on Day 12 Include:
- Chapter 36: Geriatrics
- Chapter 37: Special Challenges
- Chapter 39: Vehicular Extrication & Special Rescue
EMT Textbook Chapter 36—Geriatric Emergencies: Summary
Chapter 36 focuses on the prehospital care and transportation of older patients, specifically those over 65 years of age. Students are taught the physiologic and psychological changes that occur with the aging process and the types of illnesses and injuries common to the geriatric population.
Some of the topics covered in Chapter 36 include:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Respiratory diseases
- Neurologic diseases
- Endocrine diseases
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Dementia
Upon completing Chapter 36 and the related coursework, you will know how to assess and manage a patient with geriatric diseases and emergencies. You will understand the GEMS Diamond (Geriatric Patient, Environmental Assessment, Medical Assessment, Social Assessment), the use of advance directives (living will), and signs and symptoms of elder abuse. Finally, you’ll also be taught the importance of recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect.
EMT Textbook Chapter 37—Special Challenges: Summary
Chapter 37 covers the cause, effects, assessment, and pre-hospital treatment of patients with special challenges, including pediatric, pregnant, geriatric, and cognitively impaired patients.
In Chapter 37, students learn the healthcare implications of patients with special challenges, including:
- Abuse
- Neglect
- Homelessness
- Poverty
- Bariatrics (obesity)
- Technology dependence
- Hospice/Terminally ill
- Tracheostomy care/dysfunction
- Homecare
- Sensory deficit/loss
- Developmental disability
After successfully completing Chapter 37 and the related coursework, you will understand the special needs of patients with developmental, sensory, and physical disabilities. This includes intellectual disabilities, visual and hearing impairment, and conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or paralysis. You will understand the unique anatomy and physiology of these patients and know the proper assessment, treatment, and transportation procedures.
EMT Textbook Chapter 39—Vehicle Extrication & Special Rescue: Summary
Chapter 39 covers the 10 phases of EMS rescue operations and vehicle extrication. Extrication is the removal of patients from entrapment or a dangerous situation or position.
Throughout Chapter 39, students will learn the fundamentals of extrication, including:
- Safety
- Roles and responsibilities (EMS providers, rescue team, law enforcement, firefighters)
- Preparation (pre-incident training and extrication tools)
- En route to the scene
- Arrival and scene size-up
- Hazard control
- Support operations
- Gaining access
- Emergency care
- Removal of the patient
- Transfer of the patient
- Termination (returning emergency units to service)
After completing this chapter and the related coursework, you will be able to describe and apply EMS rescue operations to include vehicle extrication and its 10 phases. Additionally, you will be able to describe various specialized components of EMS operations, including tactical EMS, trench rescue, high-angle rescue, and the EMT’s role in these operations. You’ll also learn about the safety aspects of these operations, dealing with unique hazards, and evaluating the need for additional resources.
Day 12: Summary
Successful completion of Day 12 of the EMT Boot Camp will provide the knowledge and skills needed to treat and transport EMS patients with patients with special challenges. You will learn how to assess and treat geriatric patients, the effects of the aging process, and the types of illnesses and injuries common to the geriatric population.
After Day 12 of you will also be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform special rescue operations with a focus on vehicle extrication. The safety aspects of these operations, dealing with unique hazards, and evaluating the need for additional resources are also discussed.
Day 12 requires 12 hours of participation from start to finish, including two half-hour breaks for lunch and dinner. The coursework and training are accelerated. You will be expected to process and retain a lot of information in a relatively short time.
The Unitek 14-day EMT Boot Camp is not easy, but it is worth it! Our dedicated graduates are among the best-trained and most effective EMTs in the world today. Click here to learn more about our two-week EMT Boot Camp.
(Click here to explore our full 14-day EMT Curriculum)
About Unitek EMT
Unitek EMT is one of the premier EMT schools in Arizona. Our mission is simple: training the next wave of top-notch EMT professionals. We offer a variety of training options to fit your needs, including an accelerated EMT program to get you mission-ready and certified fast. We also offer EMS Continuing Education courses to update your expertise and enhance your career. Unitek EMT instructors are experienced leaders in their fields, and our real-world training scenarios are ideal for aspiring EMT professionals.
