Advanced Medical First Responder

 Training

Advanced Medical First Responder I

As a minimum St. John Ambulance volunteer patient care providers are trained to the Advanced Medical First Responder I level. The Advanced Medical First Responder program is a 52 hour comprehensive training program that is the minimum level of certification that a volunteer must attain before he or she can provide service in the field.

Advanced Medical First Responder II

All members are encouraged to upgrade to the Advanced Medical First Responder II certification which is a 92 hour comprehensive training program for people with specific responsibilities for caring for the sick and injured. The A-MFR II program meets the Paramedic Association of Canada's EMR competency and is similar in content to the NREMT requirements for EMT-B.

"The patches on our shoulders represents our scope of our practice - not the limits of our knowledge."

Ongoing Training and CME's

On top of the 52 hour or 92 hour Medical First Responder Training certification course, each volunteer participates in weekly training meetings to maintain and broaden their current skill set. The training meetings take place from September to June and total over 100 hours of additional training and Continuing Medical Education.

How Does a Medical First Responder Differ from a Paramedic?

Specialty Courses

Volunteer patient care providers are also given the opportunity to participate in additional training courses to broaden their skill set such as;

• Pediatric Emergencies for Prehospital Professionals (American Academy of Pediatrics)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (Brain Trauma Foundation)
• Geriatric Education for EMS
• International Trauma Life Support 
• Helicopter Ground Crew 
• Emergency Vehicle Operations
• Basic Water Rescue
• Emergency Response Cycling

Emergency Vehicle Operations

Every volunteer will undergo annual training to operate our vehicles. This course is designed to ensure that the volunteers are capable of operating our vehicles in a safe and appropriate manner at all times.

Basic Water Rescue Course

The basic water rescue course is a one day course that teaches volunteers the skills required in the instance where they may have to affect a water rescue.  The course is comprised of two halves.  In the morning half, participants learn about the skills needed to affect a water rescue, and also learn about some of the devices that are used in water rescues.  In the afternoon half, the participants go to the Welland canal where the skills that were taught in the morning half of the course are put into practice.  Participants are given possible scenarios and must attempt to affect a successful rescue.

Emergency Response Cycling Course

The emergency response cycling course is comprised of a theoretical and a practical component.  In the first half, participants are taught about the specifics of the bicycles that are used by St. John Ambulance.  In the second half of the course, the participants are subjected to a series of drills that are meant to simulate real scenarios encountered while affecting a rescue from the emergency responce cycle.

Medical First Response Services                                         Training Schedule for 2007-2008

Date	Time	Topic	Chpt(s)
Nov 6	1900-2200	Airway Management	7
Nov 13	1900-2200	Respiratory Emergencies	13
Nov 20	1900-2200	Cardiac Emergencies	14
Nov 27	1900-2200	Altered Mental Status/Diabetes	15
Dec 4	1900-2200	Stroke	16
Dec 11	1900-2200	Seizures/Syncope	17
Dec 18	1900-2200	Allergies/Anaphylaxis	18
Jan 8	1900-2200	Poisoning	19
Jan 15	1900-2200	Drug & Alcohol Emergencies	20
Jan 22	1900-2200	Acute Abdomen	21
Jan 29	1900-2200	Environmental Illnesses	22
Feb 5	1900-2200	Behavioural Emergencies	24
Feb 12	1900-2200	Obstetric and Gynecological	25
Feb 19	1900-2200	Material Review/Testing
Feb 26	1900-2200	MOI/Bleeding/Shock	26, 27
Mar 4	1900-2200	Soft Tissue	28
Mar 8	0900-1800	Standard First Aid/CPR-HCP
Mar 11	1900-2200	Burns	29
Mar 15	0900-1800	Standard First Aid/CPR-HCP
Mar 16	0900-1300	AED Recertification	14
Mar 18	1900-2200	Musculoskeletal Injuries	30
Mar 25	1900-2200	Head Injuries	31
Apr 1	1900-2200	Spinal Injuries	32
Apr 15	1900-2200	Chest/Abdominal/Genital	34
Apr 22	1900-2200	Agricultural/Industrial Injuries	35
Apr 29	1900-2200	Material Review/Testing
May 6	1900-2200	Pediatrics	36
May 13	1900-2200	Geriatrics	37
May 20	1900-2200	Ambulance Operations	38
May 27	1900-2200	Hazardous Materials	40
Jun 3	1900-2200	Multiple Casualty Incidents	41
June 10	1900-2200	Water Rescue Theory	23
June 17	1800-2200	Water Rescue Practical	23
June 24	1900-2200	Material Review/Testing

  

  

  

Specialized Training Topics

Textbook – The textbook chapters that are quoted above are from the Brady Prehospital Emergency Care 8^th Edition (ISBN 13: 978-0-13-174143-0) which can be purchased at Chapters for $84.95. While there are several other textbooks on the market that will suffice the Brady is the one that all lecture content will be based on.

Clothing – All members are advised to come to every session prepared to work outside. Many practical sessions will take place outdoors, in most cases prior notice of  outdoor training will not be given.

Certification – Every member must have a valid AMFR – I certification along with a valid Standard First Aid, CPR for the Health Care Provider (HCP) and a valid AED certification. To maintain a valid AED certification each member must perform supervised practice within six months of his/her last course and attend at least two approved CME topics. AED and CPR-HCP are valid for one year, AMFR – I and SFA are valid for three years. Every member must attend any course in its entirety to become certified.

Specialized Training – All specialized training topics are optional and the costs associated with the program are the responsibility of the member.

This training schedule is subject to change based upon operational requirements and instructor availability