U.S. Department of Transportation printed on recycled paper

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

TRAFFIC TECH

Technology Transfer Series

Number 123 May 1996

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

INSTRUCTOR TRAINING PROGRAM

OF THE NATIONAL STANDARD CURRICULUM REVISED

An Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system re- into hands-on applications. With the emphasis on

sponds to medical emergencies regardless of the cause. practical skill development, a student will complete

One of the key resources in successful EMS systems is the course with confidence that they can successfully

the training of the prehospital providers who initiate teach any course in the National Standard Curricula

care and transport patients to the appropriate facility. for which they are technically qualified. This

Often these prehospital providers are public service underlines the critical role the Instructor Training

First Responders and Emergency Medical Technicians Program plays in the overall curriculum.

(EMTs) at the basic, intermediate, and paramedic

levels. In revising the course, the Curriculum Development

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration instructional design specialists, and representatives

(NHTSA) has developed numerous training programs from the National Associations of EMTs, State EMS

for EMS personnel that have served as national stan- Directors, and EMS Physicians; and the National

dards for many years. The programs are designed to Council of State EMS Training Coordinators,

be taught by experts in the content area, who may or National Emergency Medical Services 

may not be experienced teachers. The success of any Resource Alliance, and the National Registry of

course depends ultimately on the caliber of the instruc- Emergency Medical Technicians.

tors who deliver the training.

In 1986, NHTSA developed the first edition of the Gastonia and Salisbury, both in North Carolina. The

Emergency Medical Services Instructor Training Pro- curriculum was well received in the pilots and

gram to teach instructor skills to EMS experts. In comments from the participants were incorporated

1990, NHTSA revised the EMT-Basic Course from a into the revisions.

diagnosis based curriculum to an assessment based

curriculum. To keep up with these changes in the

National Standard Curriculum, NHTSA has just re- For additional information contact Commander Garry

vised the Emergency Medical Services Instructor B. Criddle, Office of Enforcement and Emergency

Training Program: National Standard Curriculum. Services, NHTSA, NTS-42, 400 

The new course incorporates strategies for teaching fax to (202) 366-7721, or E-MAIL: 

assessment based curricula and task oriented learning gcriddle@nhtsa.dot.gov

to adult learners. It is designed to provide students

who are clinically competent in a specific content area

with the instructional skills to deliver training The revised curriculum may be purchased from the

effectively. The course focuses on instructional Government Printing Office, PO Box 371954, Pittspreparation, presentation, and evaluation. It provides a burgh, PA 15250-7954, or telephone orders may be

solid foundation in learning theory, yet moves directly placed at (202) 512-1800.

Group (CDG) sought the help of curriculum and

The revised course materials were pilot tested in

MORE INFORMATION

Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20590, send a

HOW TO PURCHASE
Government Printing Office prices for

EMS Instructor National Standard Curriculum

Instructor Guide $45.00

ST# 050-003-00467-7

Student Guide 43.00

ST# 050-003-00468-5

Course Guide 2.75 ST# 050-003-00469-3

U.S. Department 

of Transportation

National Highway 

Traffic Safety 

Administration

400 Seventh Street, S.W. NTS-33

Washington, DC 20590

TRAFFIC TECH is a publication to disseminate 

information about traffic safety programs, 

including evaluations, innovative programs, 

and new publications. Feel free to copy it as you wish. 

If you would like to receive a copy contact:

Linda Cosgrove, Ph.D., Editor, Evaluation Staff

Traffic Safety Programs

(202) 366-2759, fax (202) 366-7096

E-MAIL: lcosgrove@nhtsa.dot.gov