Advance Emergency Care Physical Therapy: Course Outline

Organization and Administration of Emergency Care

• Develop and implement emergency action plan 
• Emergency team
• Initial patient assessment and care 
• Emergency communication 
• Emergency equipment and supplies 
• Venue location 
• Emergency transportation 
• Emergency care facilities 
• Legal need and documentation

Physical Examination of the Critically Injured Patient/Athlete

• Scene assessment and safety 
• Body substance isolation precautions 
• Primary survey 
• Secondary survey 
• Vital signs

Airway Management

• Air way anatomy 
• Air way compromise 
• Oxygen therapy 
• Advanced airway devices

Sudden Cardiac Death

• Incidence and etiology of sudden death in general population 
• Sudden cardiac arrest in athletes 
• Screening and recognition of cardiac warning signs 
• Preparation for cardiac emergencies 
• Management of sudden cardiac arrest

Head Injuries

• Pathomechanics of brain injuries 
• Types of pathology 
• Classification of cerebral concussion 
• Cerebral contusion 
• Cerebral hematoma 
• Second impact syndrome 
• Initial on site assessment 
• Sideline assessment 
• Special tests for assessment of coordination 
• Special tests for assessment of cognition 
• Other tests 
• Medications 
• Wake ups and rest

Emergency Care of Cervical Spine Injuries

• Anatomy 
• Mechanism of injuries 
• Injuries to the spinal cord 
• Assessment 
• Management

Emergent General Medical Conditions

• Sudden death 
• Exercise induced anaphylaxis 
• Acute asthma 
• Diabetes mellitus 
• Mononucleosis 
• Sickle cell traits 
• Hypertension

Environment-Related Conditions

• Heat related emergencies and their prevention 
• Cold related injuries 
• Lightning 
• Altitude related emergencies

Abdominal Injuries

• Initial evaluation 
• Specific injuries: abdominal wall contusions, splenic injuries, liver injuries, renal injuries, intestinal injuries, pancreatic injuries 
• Non-traumatic abdominal injuries: Appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy

Thoracic Injuries

• Assessment 
• Management of different Types of injuries: fractures, Pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary embolism

Spine Boarding in Challenging Environments

• The soft foam pit in gymnastics 
• The pole vault pit 
• The swimming pole and diving well 
• The ice hockey rink

The Psychological and Emotional Impact of Emergency Situations

• Defining psychological trauma 
• Psychological interventions in crisis situations 
• Psychological trauma in athletic environment 
• The psychological emergency response team 
• Internal team members 
• External team members 
• The psychological interventions recommendations.

This course provides the student with all of the skills necessary to take appropriate action in an emergency in any practice setting. Basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and first aid and emergency preparedness are the content areas of this course. The course is designed to provide knowledge and skill in emergency techniques and in the application of appropriate action necessary to take care of the patient/client.

• Emergency medication 
• Advance Cardiovascular/Cardiopulmonary Emergencies 
• Dealing with Advance Emergencies 
• Practical Application on simulated equipment‘s of Advance Cardiac Life support