CPR and AED instruction tips for EMS educators

A defibrillator sends a shock to the heart during ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with the automated external defibrillator is one of the first response systems for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. The importance of their rapid response depends not only on the doctors, nurses, or health personnel but in the EMR or non-medical staff. CPR training provided by an EMS educator must ensure that learners acquire the skills and knowledge needed to act correctly during actual cardiac arrest scenario.

Here are some instruction tips for EMS educators:

• Provide a general view before you start the course: This allows the students to understand the time and the challenges they might face. Inform them about the objectives, materials, some general instructions and show them the safe points in case of any emergency.

• Use your material: Most of CPR courses include didactical media material, manikins, DEA, adult, and pediatric AED training pads. It is essential you know your equipment, and you use it in a didactical way for your students.

Also, there are short video/computer self-instruction courses, with minimal or no instructor coaching, combined with hands-on practice that can be considered an effective alternative to instructor-led CPR and AED courses.

• Prepare a comfortable environment: In case it is a face-to-face class, prepare the classroom with a particular area for the manikins, BVM, or AED so all the students can use them, also make sure space and the material is proportional to the number of students.

• Remember the name of your students: This will make the course more easygoing and personalized.

• Use your personal experience: Give them personal examples of your work in the EMS and share stories of your colleagues (with their permission), but make sure you do not overuse this.

• Explain in detail the instructions: Before the training starts, give all the instructions in particular, and clarify any questions. Use visual, auditive, and kinesthetic aids for a better explanation.

• Use the appropriate methodology: Follow the international CPR guidelines, use systematic training and reinforce the knowledge in the students by repeating training exercises and examples.

CPR Training. (© User: Rama/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0)

• During the practice: Never interrupt the practice unless it is something related to the guidance in any activity, including a skill check list for better control of the course and observe your students while doing CPR on the manikins to assess their attitudes.

AED Training and CPR Training (© User: Frederick Md Publicity/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 2.0)

• Help students acquire critical skills: Aim to ensure that learners retain the skills and knowledge that will enable them to act correctly during actual cardiac arrests. Test their abilities regularly, keep them on their toes, and follow up on their progress.

• Feedback: At the end of the course, include some objective feedback for the students and also ask them to evaluate your work so you can see your development as a teacher and improve it for the next sessions.

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