Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The purpose of this course is to develop the knowledge and skills to provide emergency care to persons injured in an accident or stricken by sudden illness. This emergency care is given prior to care by qualified medical personnel. Upon successful completion of this course, students may earn an American Red Cross Responding to Emergencies Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED Certificate.

This course will cover major aspects of first aid with regard to emergency care and preventative measures. The student will learn the proper methods and procedures for applying first aid in given emergency situations including remote settings.

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

• Analyze an emergency situation and apply appropriate first aid or cardiac care in sudden illness and emergency situations as a citizen responder in the home, work, or community environment for infant, child, or adult patient.
• Differentiate remote and wilderness settings from settings where qualified medical personnel are readily available and then apply appropriate first aid care.
   

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will detail the methods used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a course grade.

Assessment methods may include the following:

• Written examination

• Practical skill demonstration

PROCESS SKILLS

• Recognize and use a three-step plan of action in an emergency

• Assess appropriate action in a variety of adult, child, and infant emergency situations

• Demonstrate first aid skills in a variety of adult and child emergency situations

• Demonstrate correct CPR techniques

• Communication skills: Oral and written communication

THEMES, CONCEPTS, IDEAS

• Emergency identification, assessment, and action

• Recognize and provide care for various types of respiratory and cardiac emergencies for adults, children, and infants

• Understand basic anatomy and physiology of body systems

• Understand the cause of and symptoms of shock and heart attack

• Assess wound types, degree of severity, and first aid needs

• Assess burn type, degree of severity, and first aid needs

• Understand and provide care for heat and cold emergencies

• Recognize, analyze and provide care for common and sudden illness situations

• Recognize and provide care for bone and joint injuries

• Know appropriate rescue techniques and application

• Recognize and provide care for various emergency childbirth situations

• Understand the appropriate use of AED technology

• Apply first aid knowledge and skills in remote and wilderness settings