ASTM F1256-90(2002)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F1256–90(Reapproved2002)
Standard Guide for
Selection and Practice of Emergency Medical Services
Instructor for Basic Life Support/Emergency Medical
Technician (BLS/EMT) Training Programs
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1256; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.7 This guide applies only to instructors who teach in basic
life support training courses designed to prepare an individual
1.1 This guide is intended to assist emergency medical
forcertificationtopracticeasanEMT(basic)orfirstresponder.
services (EMS) agencies and institutions in selecting and
Itdoesnotapplytoinstructorswhoteachinspecializedcourses
utilizing individuals who teach in EMT (emergency medical
that do not in themselves qualify the individual for a level of
technician) training programs which include instruction in
EMT certification.
basic life support knowledge and skills.
1.8 This guide does not establish certification requirements.
1.2 This guide identifies six categories of instructor in a
Such requirements should be established by the certifying
BLS/EMT (basic life support/emergency medical technician)
agency in the jurisdiction in which the BLS/EMT instructor
training program: adjunct instructor, clinical/field preceptor,
will function. This guide may be used to provide considerable
practical skills instructor, associate instructor, course
guidance to the jurisdiction responsible for establishing certi-
instructor/coordinator (I/C), and course administrator. The
fication standards.
guide recognizes that an individual may, depending on his/her
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
level of practice and the training program involved, function in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
any or all of these categories.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.3 This guide includes specific guidelines for qualifica-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
tions, training, education, experience, scope of authority, re-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
sponsibilities, continuing education, evaluation, and mainte-
nance of competency when applicable.
NOTE 1—Also see Practice F 1031.
1.4 This guide does not include specific guidelines for the
2. Referenced Documents
course administrator or the adjunct instructor. While the guide
recognizes, by offering a definition of each category, that these
2.1 ASTM Standards:
types of individuals function in many BLS/EMT training
F 1031 Practice for Training the Emergency Medical Tech-
programs, the limited instructional roles played by these
nician (Basic)
individuals precludes the need for specific selection and
3. Terminology
utilization guidelines.
1.5 This guide is intended to apply to any individual who 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
teaches in BLS/EMT training programs regardless of the
3.1.1 adjunct instructor—an individual with specialized
individual’s present level of clinical practice. subject matter expertise, who, on occasion, instructs a specific
1.6 This guide intentionally omits references to length of
topic of a curriculum under the direction of the course
prehospital care experience, teaching experience, and continu- instructor/coordinator.
ing education requirements. This guide also omits reference to
3.1.2 associate instructor—an individual who possesses the
waiverorequivalency.Theseissuesshouldbeaddressedbythe qualifications and education/training of a course instructor/
appropriate agency.
coordinator, but, in a specific course, assumes a supportive or
assisting role to the course instructor/coordinator. This indi-
vidual may substitute for the course instructor/coordinator in
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F30 on Emergency
Medical Services and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F30.02 on
Personnel, Training and Education.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1990. Published February 1990. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 13.02.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1256–90 (2002)
case of necessity or, in other courses, serve as a course BLS/EMT programs. It must, at a minimum, contain the
instructor/coordinator. elements of the DOT EMS Instructor National Standard
Curriculum.
3.1.3 basic life support—a level of pre-hospital emergency
3.1.15 practical skills instructor—an individual who assists
medical care that includes any or all first responder and
with practical skills instruction under the direction of the
EMT-basic procedures as defined by the National Standard
3,4
course instructor/coordinator.
Curricula.
3.1.16 qualification—a requirement which shall be met by a
3.1.4 basic life support/emergency medical technician (BLS/
BLS/EMT instructor candidate prior to selection and practice
EMT) training program—a course of instruction that provides
as a BLS/EMT instructor.
an individual with the knowledge and clinical skills of emer-
gency medical care necessary to function at a level of first
4. Significance and Use
responder or EMT (basic) level of care. Such courses include,
4.1 Since the quality of prehospital BLS/EMT training
but are not limited to, first responder and EMT-basic training
depends, in large measure, on the instructional abilities and
programs.
competencies of the BLS/EMT instructor, it is imperative that
3.1.5 BLS/EMT instructor—an individual who provides in-
the individual selected and used in this capacity possess the
struction in a training or education program for prehospital
qualifications and capabilities necessary to provide effective
BLS/EMT personnel. This term includes any individual who
instruction.
functions as an adjunct instructor, clinical/field preceptor,
4.2 A BLS/EMT instructor must possess clearly defined
practical skills instructor, associate instructor, or course
knowledge and skills competencies, have clearly defined re-
instructor/coordinator.
sponsibilities and scope of authority related to instructional
3.1.6 certification—current, formal approval by the appro-
programs, and meet other specific requirements pertinent to the
priate certifying agency to function at a specific level of
level of instruction.
practice. This may also be referred to as approval or licensure.
4.3 Using this guide, EMS institutions and organizations
3.1.7 clinical certification—a standardized process for should be able to develop requirements for selection and
utilization of BLS/EMT instructors for BLS/EMT training and
evaluation and recognition of an acceptable level of compe-
education programs.
tence in a specific aspect of patient care.
3.1.8 clinical experience—exposure to and practice in an
BASIC LIFE SUPPORT INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES
area of patient care.
3.1.9 clinical/field preceptor—an individual who supervises
5. Course Instructor/Coordinator
and evaluates the students during clinical or field experiences
5.1 An individual shall be considered eligible to serve as a
under the direction of the course instructor/coordinator.
BLS/EMT course I/C (instructor/coordinator) when require-
3.1.10 course administrator—an individual responsible for
ments as outlined in 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 have been met by that
managing administrative details of a course, separate from
individual.
actual instruction of the course.
5.1.1 Qualifications—Prior to entering the instructor train-
3.1.11 course instructor/coordinator (I/C)—an individual
ing program, the course I/C candidate shall:
who is authorized by the appropriate entity to present and
5.1.1.1 Be at least a high school graduate or have a General
assess competence in all of the subject matter contained in a
Equivalency Diploma (GED); preferably a higher education
curriculum. This person also oversees all instruction in the
degree in a supportive discipline,
course and makes final evaluations concerning student compe-
5.1.1.2 Have prehospital patient care experience at least at
tence.
the level being taught,
3.1.12 course medical director—the licensed physician who
5.1.1.3 Be certified at least at the level being taught,
provides medical direction for all didactic and clinical instruc-
5.1.1.4 Demonstrate, at the level being taught, current
tion and clinical practice experience included in a BLS/EMT
competenceinandknowledgeofemergencycareoftheacutely
training program.
ill or traumatized patient to the satisfaction of the appropriate
agency, and
3.1.13 evaluation—the process of verifying clinical and
5.1.1.5 Demonstrate to the instructor training agency, read-
educational skills and knowledge competencies of a BLS/EMT
ing and language skills commensurate with resource materials
instructor.
to be utilized in the BLS/EMT training program.
3.1.14 instructor training program—an educational pro-
5.1.2 Education/Training/Experience—The course I/C can-
gram that provides a foundation of essential educational
didate shall:
principles to assist individuals to instruct in, or coordinate,
5.1.2.1 Have served as a practical skills instructor, clinical
or field preceptor, and successfully completed a supervised
Emergency Medical Services, First Responder Training Course—Instructor’s
Lesson Plans (U.S. DOT/NHTSA Report No. DOT HS 900–, 1984).
4 5
Emergency Medical Technician—Ambulance: National Standard Emergency Medical Services InstructorTraining Program:ANational Standard
Curriculum—Instructor’s Lesson Plans (U.S. DOT/NHTSA Report No. DOT HS Curriculum—Instructor’s Lesson Plans, First Edition, 1986 (U.S. DOT/NHTSA
900–, 1984). Report No. HS 900–086, February 1986).
F1256–90 (2002)
probationary teaching experience in a BLS/EMT training 5.1.4.12 Shall ensure that practical skills training equipment
program at the level to be taught to the satisfaction of the is maintained in a safe and acceptable operating condition,
appropriate agency,
5.1.4.13 Shall protect the privacy of students and the con-
5.1.2.2 Have advanced clinical certifications, provider or fidentiality of training course records as required by applicable
intructor, or both, as appropriate for the curriculum being laws and standards,
taught,
5.1.4.14 Should have knowledge of the administrative and
5.1.2.3 Be certified as a CPR instructor according to the legislative processes affecting the local, regional, or state
current standards as promulgated by the American Heart
prehospital EMS system, or combination thereof, and
Association or the American Red Cross,
5.1.4.15 Shouldhaveknowledgeofthelawsandregulations
5.1.2.4 Become familiar with a
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