EMTprep Free Training Materials

In this video, we discuss the major differences between monophasic monitors and biphasic monitors.

This video is specifically provided by EMTprep to assist Members in preparing for the NREMT exam and related skills sheets and for no other purpose.  NREMT study aids and resources provided by EMTprep are not intended to provide training for life-saving techniques, emergency response training, or any other type of medical training.

   Recertification for all levels of EMS providers is a requirement to maintain your individual certification. Maintaining your certification is a requirement for maintaining a valid license. (This can be confusing especially since these terms are used interchangeably. We’ve written an article on the differences between certification and licensure, you can view it HERE). Each level of provider has a different continuing education (CE) requirement to maintain their certification.1 In 2012, the NREMT launched the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) to streamline the recertification process. The NCCP has three sections the EMS professional must...

    We often hear the terms “certification” and “licensure” in the context of practicing EMS in the field, but it is not always clear what separates the two. To make matters worse, the two terms are often used interchangeably, which can increase confusion and make it difficult to understand what needs to be obtained in order to practice in the field. 

    The federal government defines certification as “the process by which a non-governmental organization grants recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organization.”1 Whereas licensure is defined as “the state's grant of legal authority, pursuant to the...

What is blood lactate? And what can altered levels be an indication of?

Lactate is a product of anaerobic metabolism - which is the result of cell metabolism in the absence of sufficient oxygen. Typically, lactate is metabolized by the liver to prevent toxic accumulation in the bloodstream (1). However, in the absence of adequate tissue perfusion, these levels can accumulate and have devastating effects on the body. “Normal lactate levels are less than 1.0 mmol/L in both arterial and venous blood[…] [and] one study showed a level above 4.0mmol/L was associated with a 27% mortality rate compared with 7% for patients with a lactate of 2.5-4.0 mmol/L2”...

Active shooter incidents (which often devolve into mass casualty incidents) are becoming a concern across the United States, with recent statistics showing that “in 2017, there were 29 active shooter events in the United States” (1). Thus we, as EMS professionals, must be educated in our role and response to an active shooter and/or mass casualty incident situation. 

What classifies an active shooter (AS) or mass casualty incident (MCI) scenario?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines an AS as “an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area; in most cases, active shooters use...

Although our ability to manage strokes in the field is minimal, EMS serves a critical role in obtaining a history of the illness - specifically a patient’s last known normal. 

What changes in the AHA/ASA 2018 guidelines for stroke care are important to EMS providers?

Many of the changes made to the stroke management guidelines for 2018 are applicable only to the in-hospital setting. However, there are a few changes that have been made in regards to EMS identification and management of stroke patients in the pre-hospital setting.

The key changes to the guidelines have to do primarily with early identification of strokes using some tested stroke...

What is appendix G?

Appendix G was developed by the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). This Committee provides accreditation to EMT programs across the nation and therefore sets the educations standards and expectations for these programs. 

Appendix G refers to the Student Patient Contact Matrix that designates the required number of patient contacts in the classroom, clinical, and field settings prior to the successful completion of the program. Starting July 1st, 2019 the minimum recommendations for patient contacts are changing. These changes are based on research that has...

          Managing gunshot wounds requires a working knowledge of several mechanisms. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the body is imperative; the severity of the damage and impacted body structures must be quickly assessed. This assessment also requires knowledge of bullet mechanics as it travels through the human body. Gunshot wounds present different problems for prehospital providers depending on how many bullets made an impact, what part of the body the bullet traveled through, and what type of bullet the firearm ejected.

          A bullet from a gun has a certain amount of kinetic energy. Kinetic energy is (0.5)(m)(v2), where m is...

          Success in the oral board station of the paramedic certification exam relies on being thorough, professional, and competent. Since this station involves no actual application of skills and is completely verbal, it is important that your patient assessment treatment priorities are conveyed clearly. The NREMT oral board scenarios evaluate scene management, patient assessment, patient management, interpersonal relationships, and overall integration (NREMT, 2018). Integration takes into account your verbal report, field impression, and transport decision (NREMT, 2018). 

          Scene management hinges on recognizes potential hazards throughout...

          Kinematics is a branch of mechanics that deals with the motion of objects without references to the forces that cause that motion (PHTLS, 2016). Thus, the kinematics of trauma deals with looking at a trauma scene and attempting to determine what injuries might have resulted from the incident that took place (PHTLS, 2016). Certain injury patterns occur with certain mechanisms of injury; being aware of this allows pre-hospital providers to have high levels of suspicion for certain injuries when responding to a trauma call (PHTLS, 2016).

          A traumatic event consists of three stages: the pre-event, the event, and the post-event (PHTLS,...