In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a respiratory emergency for transport, and 5) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a cardiovascular emergency for transport. 6) describe the most common neurologic and endocrine emergencies and what you can do for them as an EMT.
Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
This course is part of Become an EMT Specialization
Instructors: Angela Wright, MD
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Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
1 week at 10 hours a week
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Assessments
8 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Become an EMT Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course
At the end of this module, you will be able to: 1) apply a systematic approach of patient assessment specifically to a patient with a medical complaint, 2) explain the basic principles of pharmacology including forms of medications, routes of medication administration, and to define the basic components of a drug profile and, 3) organize the appropriate steps when administering any medication including the five rights, premedication evaluation and post administration evaluation.
What's included
9 videos5 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
Assessment of and management of the airway is critical in patient care. This module is all about the airway. In this module you will 1) identify the most important anatomic and physiologic portions of the respiratory system, 2) distinguish between normal and abnormal in the setting of airway and breathing 3) learn how and when to use the various tools you will have as an EMT to stabilize or improve the respiratory conditions in diverse patients.
What's included
14 videos5 readings1 assignment
In this module, we will dig a little deeper into the respiratory system now that you have an overview of how this system works and its importance. By the end of this module you will 1) start to classify types of symptoms and triage them on scene 2) distinguish between an upper and lower airway issues 3) Develop the framework to assess acute and chronic respiratory diseases. 4) Work through the primary and secondary surveys you will perform when faced with a patient with many different respiratory complaints.
What's included
10 videos3 readings1 assignment
In this module we cover a system closely related to the respiratory system- the cardiovascular system. In this module you will learn 1) the intricacies of the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. 2) a few of the most common diseases that affect the cardiovascular system 3) how to approach and assess patients with cardiac complaints with an emphasis on patients with possible acute coronary syndromes 4) the differences in treatment for various cardiac complaints.
What's included
13 videos2 readings2 assignments
This module encompasses the neurological and endocrine systems. While these may not initially sound related, in this module you will learn how to assess patients with altered mental status and primary neurological complaints. To get to that point, you will: 1) learn the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the endocrine system. 2) learn about specific diseases or symptoms of diseases that affect the brain and mental status of a patient. 3) apply this background knowledge to the completing the primary and secondary assessments of a patients with stroke like symptoms, headaches, seizures and with altered mental status.
What's included
11 videos3 readings2 assignments
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Status: Free TrialUniversity of Colorado System
Status: Free TrialUniversity of Colorado System
Status: Free Trial
Status: Free TrialUniversity of Colorado System
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Showing 3 of 813
RF
Reviewed on Feb 19, 2021
Excellent course, great teachers, and very good explanations. I was able to better understand some concepts that were elusive to me so far.
ME
Reviewed on Oct 28, 2020
This course really helpful and interesting, but I think some of the quiz' answer is incorrect, maybe it need some re-evaluation, thankyou.
DJ
Reviewed on Oct 11, 2020
This course was very informative. I learned alot. I am very Thankful for this oppourtunity to gain more knowledge about Medical Emergencies. .
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Frequently asked questions
IMPORTANT UPDATE: "Become an EMT" Specialization & NREMT Certification
Current Course Status
The existing version of the "Become an EMT" specialization no longer meets the updated certification standards implemented by the NREMT in 2024. The current version cannot be used to qualify for NREMT examination. It remains a valuable resource for anyone exploring emergency medical services, continuing education, or general EMS knowledge. The current version is not a pathway to NREMT certification at this time.
New Version Coming Summer 2026
A fully redesigned NREMT‑aligned specialization is scheduled to launch in Summer 2026. NREMT‑aligned specialization is scheduled to launch in Summer 2026. This update ensures the course meets all current certification requirements and supports your long‑term success.
Path to NREMT Certification with the New Course
Two components must be successfully completed to sit for the NREMT exam:
If You Are Currently Enrolled
If you are enrolled and working toward NREMT certification, we recommend pausing your participation and waiting for the Summer 2026 specialization. The knowledge you've already gained will still hold value as you start the new course, however, the current course will not carry over to the new version.
If You Are Considering Enrollment
We recommend waiting for the new NREMT-eligible specialization when it launches in Summer 2026. Until then, the current specialization remains a solid foundation for:
Questions? Reach out to us anytime at uchmedic@uchealth.org — we're happy to help you plan your path forward.
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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Financial aid available,