Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)

What You Need to Graduate 

Full attendance in class is mandatory for the completion of this course.

Program Format 

Our EMR course will reflect new EMR scope of practice changes increasing the program from 15 days to 20 days in length, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.  Our part-time class will go from 7 weekends to 10 weekends, Saturday & Sunday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. 

The EMR course for the 2023 fall term will consist of 3 weeks or 15 days directly followed by an additional 5 days of our new EMR Scope of Practice Update course. 

With the changes to EMR it is now a program and students will need to apply through the StrongerBC future skills grant for the 23FA term. Please note that the grant is for BC residents only September to December 2023. Please follow the instructions under HOW TO APPLY.

The classroom is very busy, and it is expected that you will need to study each night to review the material learned and to prepare for the next day.  Wear comfortable clothing and consider wearing a watch for timekeeping.  Bring textbooks, notepads, pens, a watch, food, and water.

This program is delivered in person at the Chilliwack, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, and Victoria campuses.  It is also available at additional locations throughout BC including other post-secondary institutions, colleges, and private facilities.

Prerequisites

It is recommended that students have a minimum grade 10 English level.

Date and time

Monday to Friday for full-time or Saturday & Sunday for part-time, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.*

EMR SCHEDULE

Please note that our Fall 2023 EMR Schedule applications are now full and we are no longer taking applications.

Continue to check this page for future Winter 2024 (Jan 1 - April 30, 2024) EMR offerings.

EXAMS

Students are assessed and coached throughout the course. Formal evaluations are as follows: 

• 1 midterm: 50 multiple-choice questions 
• BLS written exam: 20 multiple-choice questions
• 6 skills assessments
• Final comprehensive written exam: 100 multiple-choice questions
• Final practical examinations (1 medical scenario/1 trauma scenario)

Students must pass with a minimum of 75% for each of the written and practical exams.

Upon successful completion of the EMR course, students will receive the following:

• JIBC EMR certificate (valid 3 years) and a Canadian Red Cross BLS card/certificate (valid 1 year).

Remedial

Students are given an opportunity to do one (1) retest for their final written, medical scenario, and/or trauma scenario) should they be unsuccessful in their final exams. Failure to complete this requirement within 90 days after the course end date will result in a ‘FAIL’ grade.

Anyone entering the health care field seeking fundamental paramedicine training.

People interested in becoming provincially-licensed for employment within ambulance services, fire departments, industrial projects and recreation facilities, such as lifeguards and ski patrollers.

Program strengths 

Current best practices in trauma life-support and treatment guidelines form an experiential course that is led by skilled paramedic field-practitioners and focuses on the development of the learner to attain core-competencies as defined by the Paramedic Association of Canada (PAC).

View the Becoming a Paramedic in BC videos for information on a career in paramedicine.

This program focuses on the skills needed to respond to trauma and medical emergencies.

The Emergency Medical Responder program is a prerequisite course for the Primary Care Paramedic Program. 

Course Topics

• Fundamentals of Emergency Medicine
• Assessment and Diagnostics
• Medical Conditions and Emergencies
• Traumatic Emergencies and Soft Tissue Injuries
• Diverse Populations and EMS Operations 

EMR Course

Upon successful completion of this course the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the components of the Emergency Health Services System
2. Describes the fundamental principles of anatomy and physiology
3. Assess and manage a broad range of life-threatening traumatic and medical emergencies
4. Demonstrate a secondary assessment involving history taking and diagnostics
5. Demonstrate basic airway and breathing management and critical interventions
6. Demonstrate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillation (AED)
7. Demonstrate spinal-injury management procedures and techniques
8. Demonstrate and treat suspected opioid overdose
9. Demonstrate the following specific treatments and medical interventions:

1. Acute coronary syndrome symptom relief with oxygen, nitroglycerin and acetylsalicylic acid
2. Blood glucose sampling and glucose administration to treat diabetic emergencies
3. Pain management through the administration of nitrous oxide gas
4. Emergency childbirth and neonatal/pediatric basic life support
5. Basic first-aid techniques including minor wound care and at-work treatment
6. Maintenance and dosage calculations of an intravenous line

10. Describe mass casualty and special rescue considerations

EMR Scope Changes Course

Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

1. Describe the use, limitations, interpretation, and accuracy of carbon monoxide (CO) oximetry testing, referring to physiological manifestations of elevated test results and the treatments.
2. Explain the use, application and administration of inhaled and nebulized bronchodilators and intramuscular administration of epinephrine, referring to pathophysiology, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, anatomical structures, and principles of pharmacology.
3. Conduct a respiratory assessment and interpret findings to inform the use and application of a bronchodilator and intramuscular epinephrine.
4. Explain the use and application of topical administration of procoagulants and antifibrinolytics, referring to pathophysiology, anatomical structures, and principles of pharmacology.
5. Explain the use and application of intranasal opioid antagonists, referring to pathophysiology, anatomical structures, and principles of pharmacology.
6. Explain the use and application of intranasal and intramuscular administration of anti-hypoglycemic agents, referring to pathophysiology, anatomical structures, and principles of pharmacology.
7. Differentiate between the maintenance of intravenous lines in the prehospital, the in-hospital and hospital-to-hospital transfer environments.
8. Explain the maintenance of intravenous lines, access devices and infusions of crystalloid solutions without additives like medications or blood products, referring to pathophysiology, anatomical structures, and principles of pharmacology.
9. Explain the use and application of oral analgesia, referring to physiology, pathophysiology, and the principles of pharmacology.
10.  Demonstrate appropriate use and application of:

• CO oximetry testing,
• Nebulized and inhaled bronchodilators,
• Topical administration of procoagulants and antifibrinolytics,
• Intranasal administration of opioid antagonists,
• Intranasal and intramuscular administration of anti-hypoglycemic agents, and
• Intramuscular administration of epinephrine.
•  Oral analgesia

11.  Demonstrate skills in treatments of:

• Patients showing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning,
• Patients showing signs of and experiencing adverse symptoms involving the respiratory system,
• Patients showing signs of and experiencing adverse symptoms involving the immune system,
• Trauma patients including those with penetrating wounds where topical administration of procoagulants and antifibrinolytics might be required,
• Patients experiencing toxicologic syndromes where administration of intranasal opioid antagonists might be required, and
• Patients experiencing adverse signs and symptoms involving the endocrine system where administration of intranasal and/or intramuscular administration of anti-hypoglycemic agents might be required.
• Patients showing signs of and experiencing pain.

Tuition & fEES

All Fall 2023 EMR classes are only available to the StrongerBC future skills grant. Find out how to apply. For those individuals who do not qualify for the grant, please check back in the near future as we anticipate scheduling new EMR classes in 2024 that are open to general enrollments.

Tuition and mandatory fees are subject to an annual 2% increase every April 1. See the catalogue for the official listed price.

REFUNDS

Continuing Studies Courses (Refund Policy-3210–003)

If a student withdraws 7 calendar days prior to the beginning of the course they receive a 100% refund;

Withdrawal with less than 7 calendar days from the start of the course is not eligible for tuition refund;

Some courses may have non-refundable tuition, application, and/or material fees (this will be identified at the time of registration).

To receive a refund please contact Student Services (Registration).

Textbooks & Supplies

Required Textbooks

• Pearson's, Emergency Medical Responder. A Skill Approach (5th edition) ISBN-13: 9780133946215

• Canadian Red Cross, Basic Life Support Field Guide 2018 ISBN: 978-1-58480-704-9

Pre-Read: Please review chapters 1-4, 6, 10, 14, 18, 29, & 33 in the Emergency Medical Responder: A Skills Approach (5th Edition) prior to day 1 of class.  Once enrolled students will be emailed additional pre-reading material.

Note: Only the New Westminster Campus have books available for sale.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE FALL 2024 TERM.

Please follow the instructions below.  We will be in touch once your application has been reviewed. 

How to apply through education planner bc

1. Go to EducationPlannerBC
2. Sign up for an account by creating your Username and Password.
3. Complete your profile (3 sections):
   -  Personal information
   -  Contact Information
   -  Academic history
4. Start applying.  Select your institution:  Justice Institute of British Columbia.  Create application.
5. Select applicant category as BC resident Future Skills Grant.
6. Select the program you wish to apply for, campus, and terms. Save.
7. Complete additional information.  Sign the FSG declaration.
8. Review and submit application.
9. Select no charge from payment options.
10. Confirm your email address.
11. Check boxes for declaration of information and applicant.
12. Submit application.

Let us know if you have any questions - futureskills@jibc.ca

Q: Is my nursing degree equivalent to the EMR level? 
A: Unfortunately not. Currently, the BC Ministry of Health's Emergency Medical Assistant's Licensing Board (EMALB) who govern the Emergency Medical Assistant's Regulations do not allow transferring between nursing and pre-hospital medicine without first completing paramedic education.

Q: Do I need to complete a Criminal Record Check to apply for the EMR course?
A: Currently there are no requirements for a Criminal Record Check to apply for a seat in the EMR course. However, you will likely need to complete a Criminal Record Check for potential employers. 

Q: Is there a dress code?
A: Yes. Casual, comfortable attire and closed-toe footwear (i.e. running shoes) are recommended.