Behind the scene: Training EMTs out in the trenches

Training Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) students of the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) is often severely constrained by the lack of adequate resources, minimal training time allotted and was further complicated by the physical distancing requirements during the COVID-19 viral pandemic. This presentation describes the use of low-resource, low-technology training methods to create, adapt and deliver training to EMT students. A branching scenario critical decision-making module previously created using Twine (http://twinery.org/) had to be adapted as some EMT units were more remote and internet access would be difficult. Instead, Google Form was used to present the same objectives and provide similar feedback and interaction. When COVID-19 physical distancing requirements were lifted, a low fidelity simulation scenario training was created where EMT teams role-played “working” on an ambulance and running “calls” using a very basic setup of a couple of chairs to replicate the front of the rig with a gurney and a mannequin. Four different scenarios were created to walk students through similar branching decision-making scenarios used in Twine and Google Form. The “evolution” of the branching scenario training from using Twine to Google Form and finally to in-person low-fidelity simulation scenario training was in response to the evolving needs and constraints of training EMTs in the trenches. Additionally, two interactive HTML5 (H5P) modules were developed to train EMTs on the use of emergency lights control panel and siren box control in an emergency ambulance. This presentation will provide an overview and demonstration of these low-resource methods as well as anecdotal feedback from EMT students.