Sunday, July 4, 2010

A few random thoughts to consider before you start training EMS personnel

Here's some of the things you should consider BEFORE you start an EMS course.

1. Your experience. Some instructors have virtually no street experience but they can make up for this in teaching technique and by admitting up-front that they lack this attribute. For these instructors, it is critical to use outside experts to teach certain aspects of the course. Bring in a OB nurse to teach OB, for example. The other point I would like to make here is that more experience = better teacher. In fact, in my 20+ years of EMS, I've seen many "experienced" paramedics and EMT's fail at the front of the classroom. It can be quite spectacular and the people who suffer are the students.

2. Respect for time. If you say class starts at 7 PM, it should start at 7 PM. Respect your students' time. Those who show up late are disruptive and distrespectful to everyone. Put the hammer down on this one.

3. Be a coach. Allowing an underperformer to still play the game will bring the whole group down. I know this sounds harsh, but if someone on the team doesn't put forth the effort to improve, why waste your time? More importantly, what message does this send to the people who are trying to improve?

4. Make yourself available. When a learner approaches you for help, find a way to help. If you are too busy to make time, you should not be an instructor. I mean this sincerely. If you are volunteering your time and you think that that means class time only, your not really volunteering.

5. Know the material. This is critical. I dont' care if you've been an EMT for 60 years. You need to read what your students are reading. It is the only way to be up-to-speed on the concepts they need to know. If your students seem to know more than you do about the current standards, turn the class over to someone else.

6. Write down your expectations. Your class should know what the rules are before they jump in fully with two feet. Present the rules on the first night of class and go over them in detail. Then, have the students sign off on a form acknowledging that they'll follow the rules or they'll be asked to leave.

7. Talk to your "sponsor". If your teaching for a volunteer ambulance service whose board members or leadership personnel expect a 100% pass rate, have a heart-to-heart conversation with them. Attrition rates of EMT students in volunteer squads is very high. If the students are not committed to learning, they will not pass. You might be the best instructor in the world, but in the end it is the individual that needs to open the book on their own.

--Sherm

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