MDmedic2FL

The legal stuff is a great idea. Denise Graham authored a wonderful book on Legally Defensible Report Writing. While not an EMS provider herself, Ms. Graham works with a legal firm, (she is an RN), and she is married to a paramedic, who has, undoubtedly, provided her with assistance in her journey to help us avoid legal woes. I think she's listed under Clemens publishing on the web, if you care to look up her book info. For my own students, in their Introduction to the Prehospital Environment, I have two police officers, who provide a Crime Scene Awareness class (it's brief) done from the police perspective, come in and speak about how, we as EMS providers, can help preserve the crime scene, while still effectively and safely doing our job. Then, my Program Director, has another Paramedic Instructor, who is an adjunct faculty member at our college, and a tactical paramedic, come in and speak on the same topic, but from the EMS provider's perspective. It's quite interesting for the students to put all the information together. Now, if you're looking for activities, as well as for topics, I have some 'game' templates that we use in our classroom that I can share with you. We have a Jeopardy template (we had to purchase an $800 interactive buzzer set to go with the overhead projection template that I made up! And we tried the 'cheap' Jeopardy buzzer set for school kids....that didn't work out). I also made up a Medic Bingo for Pharmacology, and I'm completing a MedicMonopoly right now (very time consuming one to make). We are also working on a sort of 'wheel of misfortune'.....don't laugh.....we haven't quite got that down yet, but we're working on it....it's like a roulette wheel contraption. Anyway, we happily share whatever helps out others in need. Good luck with your search. Teresa

Like Ridryder, I, too, teach in a professional setting (a paramedic program, in a college, during the day hours); however, I find myself 'stuck' in my office a lot at night and get to witness what the EMT-B instructor (a paramedic by day) must go through with respect to the endless hours of juggling theory ('book work' / lecture) and 'hands on' training with her students and I am AMAZED by this woman's ability to manage it all in such a short period of time!! She meets on T and Th from 6:30-9:30 and some Saturdays. On those evenings, she gives a lecture, then breaks into groups and runs through lab practicals. EACH student MUST take the team lead position! She puts a chart on the board to check off each student as he/she completes that task. It is a truly fluid process to watch. And, these students can cite the 'why' (the pathophysiology) and perform the required task usually without incident! Happily, I've learned several pointers from her......and I use them! Kudos to my EMT-B instructor counterpart! She is an awesome instructor and I hope to continue to benefit, as do her students......and, ultimately, the citizens. I only hope other 'administrative agencies' will understand that instructors need this class time to give to students for this 'hands on' time. As for my classes, I find that my students 'need it all'.....I have 'book learners', 'visual learners' and 'hands on' learners'....so that's what they get....they get it all...And, so far...it's working. We have a class of usually 25 each Fall semester, and I break them into 'groups' of 5 or so.....this works great for games, etc. It also 'forces' them to get to know and trust one another...that 'team work' thing. They also learn our golden rule, "adapt and overcome".....Don't have what you expect to have, now what do you do? They love that stuff...and it makes them THINK....critical thinking is the HOT topic in education these days and YOU all, as EMS providers do that better than any other group of folks on earth....so these educational games are GREAT for integrating that. Oh, and we play Jeopardy and they like that, too. I also created a Medic Bingo for our Pharmacology class. And, I'm doing a weird version of MedicMonopoly right now....it's not done yet. Bottom line.....they have to hear it, see it, and do it to do it well. We all do. Teresa