Test Results Reveal Potential Deficits in EMT-Basic Education By Philip D. Dickison Posted 7/19/2004
Evaluation of the current versions of the NREMT-Basic written examination indicates EMT-Basic
students are having significant difficulty in identifying and managing airway, oxygenation, and/or
ventilation problems in pediatric and adult patients. The deficits in EMT education are related to
recognizing the differences between signs and symptoms associated with oxygen deficiency and the signs and
symptoms associated with ventilation deficiencies. In addition to these areas, the test results indicate the
current EMT-Basic has difficulty answering items requiring an understanding of airway and ventilation issues
related to the current CPR Guidelines.
Similar deficits were identified more than two years ago and resulted in the development of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2002 EMT-Basic Supplemental Airway Module. States requiring their
instructors to use this supplemental airway module have reported significant improvement in examination
scores, unfortunately there does not appear to be widespread use of the valuable education tool within EMS
classrooms. EMS educators may download a copy of the 2002 EMT-Basic Supplemental Airway Module by clicking
here.
Educators should be cautious of assuming that the students who possess a current CPR card are proficient
in the entire domain of basic cardiac life support. The EMT-Basic educator should incorporate the basic
cardiac life support principles included in the American Heart Association's "Guideline 2000 for CPR and
ECC" within the educational support materials utilized in their CPR courses.
