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Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses Faculty

Emergency Medical Technology (EMT) Courses

EMT 101 Emergency Medical Technician Training

  • Units:8
  • Hours:90 hours LEC; 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Enrollment Limitation:Students will be required to complete background checks/drug screens, purchase uniforms, verify immunizations, obtain Tb clearance, and have CPR for BLS, including one & two person (adult, child & infant) CPR with AED for the clinical component of this course. This course is not open to students with a current EMT - Basic certificate. All EMT 101 students must have an American Heart Association BLS for the Health Care Provider CPR card (required under NHTSA and California Regulations) prior to the first day of class.
  • Advisory:AH 311; students are also advised to take an anatomy and physiology course prior to taking this course.
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course provides instruction to the level of Emergency Medical Technician (previously called EMT Basic or EMT-I). Topics include skills necessary to provide emergency medical care at a basic life support level with a fire, ambulance, or other specialized service. EMT students gain clinical experience in an ambulance and in emergency departments of hospitals. This course is recognized by both the Sacramento and El Dorado County Health Departments, Division of Emergency Medical Services, which are the certifying agencies for Sacramento and El Dorado Counties by the State of California. This certification is mandatory for all who wish to pursue a career working on an ambulance as a paramedic. EMT certification is also a pre-employment requirement for most fire departments. To be compliant with OSHA regulations, students may not have a beard or any facial hair below the lip. A final grade of "B" or better is required for a course completion certification. All students must bring a watch with seconds displayed each day to class. Students will also be required to have PPE (gloves) and other EMT equipment to participate in the clinical component. All students must purchase an EMT student T-shirt to be worn to all class sessions. Dark blue work pants will be required for the ER and ambulance experience. Students must purchase liability insurance from the college. This course is not open to students with a current EMT-Basic certificate.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • demonstrate knowledge of current information needed to work in the field of emergency medicine as an EMT.
  • respond appropriately to the nature and seriousness of the patient's condition or extent of injuries to assess requirements for appropriate emergency medical care.
  • recognize the indications and demonstrate the techniques for administering medications that are within the EMT-Basic scope of practice.
  • demonstrate professional communication, transportation, and record keeping skills during patient care.
  • describe the pathophysiology of common diseases and how they manifest in patients.
  • demonstrate and understand the use of basic medical terminology related to patient care.
  • perform the essential skills and demonstrate proficiency in using EMS equipment.
  • demonstrate professional values, ethics, and standards for emergency medical personnel.
  • perform the essential skills and demonstrate proficiency in the administration of oral glucose, epinephrine and naloxone (narcan).
  • complete and pass the National Registry exam.

EMT 102 Emergency Medical Care Refresher

  • Units:1.5
  • Hours:18 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Enrollment Limitation:Current certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (1) or Basic.
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course provides continuing education and skills verification modules for current Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) certified at the Basic Life Support (BLS) level. It satisfies most of the refresher requirements of local, state and national Emergency Medical Services (EMS) certifying organizations. EMS related topics include airway management and ventilation, cardiac care and resuscitation, patient assessment, injury management, legal and ethical issues, vital signs monitoring and assisting with medication administration. This course is designed for currently California State certified EMT - Basic(I) and meets all state requirements for EMT (I) recertification by Sacramento Emergency Medical Services Agency. BLS (CPR) cards are not issued in the completion of this course. Students that have expired EMT certification should contact the instructor prior to signing up for EMT 102. This course does not provide preparation for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) entry or recertification exam.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • Demonstrate knowledge of current EMS practicum and up to date trends within field of emergency pre-hospital care as an EMT.
  • Recognize the nature and seriousness of the patient's condition or extent of injuries to effectively mitigate the appropriate emergency medical care.
  • Identify the symptoms/signs of a major medical and traumatic emergencies in a pre-hospital arena.
  • Utilize communicating, transporting, and record keeping skills with all aspects of patient care.
  • Recognize the indications and demonstrate the techniques for administering medications and provide updated skills that are within the EMT-Basic scope of practice.
  • Utilize, incorporate and demonstrate proficiency in all equipment within the EMT scope of practice in all patient care interface.
  • Perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation and demonstrate AED use in a competent manner in accordance with national standards.
  • Competency in demonstrating and utilizing all basic life support equipment.
  • Enact the appropriate decision making processes in coordinating lifting, extricating, and positioning of the patient to minimize discomfort and prevent further injury.
  • Demonstrate professional values, ethics, and standards for emergency medical personnel.
  • Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, family members, rescuers and other health care professionals, utilizing contemporary guidelines.
  • Practice team cohesion and team leadership with every patient assessment and with rendering emergency medical care.

EMT 109 Emergency Medical Responder

  • Units:3
  • Hours:36 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:Community CPR and Adult AED Certification
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course is an introduction to the principles and practices of prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS). It is intended to prepare the student for state and national certification as an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR). The EMR responds to a variety of patients experiencing medical and trauma related emergencies and assists other EMS personnel during initial first response culminating in transport of the sick and injured. The course conforms to the 2007 National EMS Scope of Practice Model and 2009 EMS National Education Standards. Field trips and off-campus lab assignments may be required.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • describe the levels of EMS providers and their roles in the health care system.
  • demonstrate the professional attributes expected of Emergency Medical Responders.
  • utilize effective communication techniques with patients, bystanders, and other emergency responders.
  • demonstrate psychomotor skills necessary to care for patients with compromised airways and inadequate ventilation.
  • perform the duties of an EMR with the appropriate regard for medical-legal and ethical issues, including functioning under medical direction and within the scope of practice.
  • apply principles of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, life-span development, and therapeutic communications to the assessment and management of patients.
  • identify the need for and perform immediately life-saving interventions to manage a patient in shock and to support adequate circulation.
  • assess and manage patients of all ages with a variety of complaints, medical conditions and traumatic injuries.
  • apply principles of EMS operations, safety standards, multiple casualty triage, gaining access to victims, extricating patients, hazardous materials recognition, and man-made disasters.

EMT 299 Experimental Offering in Emergency Medical Technology

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This is the experimental courses description.


EMT 300 Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider CPR

  • Units:1
  • Hours:18 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • General Education:AA/AS Area III(b)
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course meets the requirements for American Heart Association certification as a Basic Life Support (BLS) Healthcare Professional. It involves learning BLS skills that are applicable to any healthcare setting. Students will learn life-saving rescue techniques for adults, children, and infants individually and as part of a team dynamics, including performance of high-quality CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), ventilation techniques, opioid-associated emergencies, anaphylactic emergencies, and choking. This course may be repeated up to four times for credit.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • describe the importance of high-quality CPR and its impact on survival.
  • perform high-quality CPR for an adult, child, and infant.
  • describe and demonstrate appropriate use of an AED.
  • provide effective ventilation by using a barrier device.
  • perform as an effective team member during multi-rescuer CPR.
  • describe technique for relief of foreign-body airway obstruction for an adult, child, and infant.
  • describe steps and procedures for opioid and anaphylactic emergencies.

Fire Technology (FT) Courses

FT 295 Independent Studies in Fire Technology

  • Units:1 - 3
  • Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

An independent studies project involves an individual student or small group of students in study, research, or activities beyond the scope of regularly offered courses. See the current catalog section of "Special Studies" for full details of Independent Studies.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • Discuss and outline a proposal of study (that can be accomplished within one semester term) with a supervising instructor qualified within the discipline.
  • Design an independent study (to be completed individually or by collaboration of a small group) to foster special knowledge, skills, and experience that are not available in any one regularly scheduled course.
  • Analyze and apply the knowledge, skills and experience that are involved in the independent study to theoretical perspectives and/or concepts in the major discipline of study.
  • Demonstrate competence in the skills essential to mastery of the major discipline of study that are necessary to accomplish the independent study.

FT 299 Experimental Offering in Fire Technology

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This is the experimental courses description.


FT 300 Fire Protection Organization

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course provides an introduction to fire protection and emergency services. Fire Protection Organization is recommended as the first course in the series of fire technology courses. Topics covered include: career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; culture and history of emergency services; philosophy and history of fire protection; fire loss analysis; organization and function of public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; an introduction to fire protection systems; and an introduction to fire strategy and tactics; life safety initiatives. This course meets the National Fire Academy, Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum model for the Principles of Emergency Services.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • analyze and articulate the qualifications for entry-level skills, the discipline and evaluation process, fire service structure, history, and culture of the fire service, career preparation and goal setting for careers in both the public and private sector, wellness and fitness as it relates to all fire and emergency services, and have a working knowledge of basic culinary etiquette appropriate for the fire service.
  • describe laws, regulations, codes, standards and the regulatory and advisory organizations that influence fire department and emergency operations.
  • review and understand the basic components of fire; determine the causes of fire, extinguishing agents, stages of fire, fire development, and method of heat transfer, firefighter strategy and tactics, and the basic elements of firefighting safety and survival.
  • assess the common types of fire and emergency service facilities, basic components of fire as a chemical reaction, the major phases of fire and examine the main factors that influence fire spread and fire behavior, types of common fire department apparatus, equipment and personal safety equipment used for firefighting, equipment, and apparatus, vehicle maintenance, and relevant administrative practices.
  • evaluate command structure utilized at all fire and emergency incidents, the role of national, state and local support organizations in the fire and emergency services, and effective management concepts for various emergency situations.
  • define and describe the scope, purpose, and organizational structure of fire and emergency services.

FT 301 Fire Prevention Technology

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:FT 300
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course provides fundamental knowledge relating to the field of fire prevention, history and philosophy of fire prevention, organization and operation of a fire prevention bureau, use and application of codes and standards, plans review, fire inspection practices with identification and correction of fire hazards, fire and life safety education, and fire investigation. This course meets the National Fire Academy, Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum model for Fire Prevention.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • evaluate the qualifications for entry level skills, the discipline and evaluation process, fire service structure, history, philosophy of fire prevention, and qualifying criteria for all fire prevention related positions.
  • critically analyze fire incidents, emergency management, firefighter safety, fire safety education, fire prevention, fire reports and records, and all related fire inspections.
  • assess laws, regulations, codes, standards and the regulatory and advisory organizations that influence fire department operations relevant to fire prevention jurisdiction.

FT 302 Fire Protection Equipment and Systems

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:FT 300 and 301
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course provides information relating to the features of design and operation of fire detection and fire alarm systems, heat and smoke control systems, water-based fire suppression systems, special hazard fire suppression systems, fire protection and sprinkler systems, water supply for fire protection, as well as portable fire extinguishers. This course meets the National Fire Academy, Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum model for Fire Protection Systems.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • critically analyze fire protection laws, regulations, codes, standards, regulatory and advisory organizations at the national, state, and local level.
  • evaluate the common types of building construction and conditions associated with structural collapse and firefighter safety, benefits of fire protection systems in various types of structures, and the relationship to systems and equipment.
  • identify the basic elements of a public water supply system, distribution networks, piping, hydrants, flow requirements, and fire suppression components of each system.

FT 303 Building Construction for Fire Protection

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:FT 300, 301, and 302
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course is the study of the components of building construction that relate to firefighter and life safety. The elements of construction and design of structures are shown to be key factors when inspecting buildings, pre-planning fire operations and operating at fires and other emergencies. The development and evolution of building and fire codes will be studied in relation to past fires in residential, commercial land industrial occupancies.This course meets the National Fire Academy, Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum model for Building Construction for Fire Prevention.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • critically analyze and evaluate fire incidents and components of firefighter safety and survival.
  • identify various classifications of building construction and understand theoretical concepts of how fire impacts major types of building construction.
  • describe building construction materials that yield fire safety for occupants and firefighters.

FT 304 Fire Behavior and Combustion

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:FT 300, 301, 302, and 303
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This course provides the student with theories and fundamentals of how and why fires start, spread and are controlled; an in-depth study of fire chemistry and physics, fire characteristics of materials, extinguishing agents and fire control techniques. This course meets the National Fire Academy, Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum model for Fire Behavior and Combustion.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • identify the fundamental theories of fire behavior and combustion.
  • review and describe the Department of Transportation (DOT) warning placards and labeling systems the Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazard Class System.
  • critically analyze and determine the causes of fire, extinguishing agents, stages of fire, fire development, methods of heat transfers, fire chemistry and the dynamics of fire combustion.
  • differentiate the various types of extinguishing agents and identify various methods and techniques to the theory of fire extinguishment.

FT 305 Firefighter Safety and Survival

  • Units:3
  • Hours:54 hours LEC
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Advisory:FT 300, 301, 302, 303, and 304
  • Transferable:CSU
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

The course introduces the principles and history related to the national firefighter life safety initiatives, focusing on the need for cultural and behavioral changes throughout the emergency services profession. Emphasis is placed on occupational health and safety of firefighters as well as their personal and organizational accountability. Topics include safety, risk management, medical and fitness standards, industry standards relating to vehicle operation and road scene safety as well as firefighter fatality case studies and analysis. The course emphasizes best safety practices before, during, and after the emergency incident. This course meets the National Fire Academy, Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) curriculum model for Principles of Fire and Emergency Services Safety and Survival.

Student Learning Outcomes

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

  • assess the need for cultural and behavioral change within the emergency services relating to safety, incorporating leadership, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility, concepts of risk management, effective firefighter safety survival strategies and tactical decision-making.
  • identify and evaluate unsafe work practices, workplace hazards, and environmental conditions.
  • apply national training standards
  • explain and defend the need for annual medical evaluations, mental health screening, physical fitness criteria, cancer screening, near-misses, injuries, and firefighter fatalities.

FT 499 Experimental Offering in Fire Technology

  • Units:0.5 - 4
  • Prerequisite:None.
  • Catalog Date:January 1, 2025

This is the experimental courses description.