SD Project Firstline Creates National Emergency Medical Services Curriculum

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of South Dakota have approved the emergency medical services (EMS) infection prevention and control curriculum developed by South Dakota Project Firstline (SD PFL).  Individuals who complete the training available on the SD PFL’s website can receive continuing education credits to apply toward EMS certification renewal.  

“EMS crews across South Dakota provide emergency care within their communities. Every environment they encounter poses infection risks. The South Dakota Project Firstline EMS curriculum provides a solid foundation for infection prevention,” explained Rebecca Sime, RN, program manager for the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC). “Project Firstline provides the opportunity to tailor training and education to meet the needs of the EMS community.”  

PFL focuses on providing infection control training to South Dakota frontline staff and healthcare workers.  Providing access to the latest science and resources will help achieve the mission of creating universal infection prevention practices used by all health care workers.    

“The opportunity to work with the South Dakota EMS teams is a firsthand opportunity to ensure infection control practices are taking place from the time the team is needed until the patient they are helping reaches the doors of the healthcare facility,” said Jess Danko, MSHA, RRT, LTC-CIP, program director for SDFMC. “This not only protects the patients that they are there to help but the individuals that go to the rescue calls, protecting themselves, their crews, and their families when the EMS teams go back to their homes.”  

Training can take place in-person or virtually for any healthcare or EMS site or department. The SD PFL team provides infection control training and education using interactive presentations. The Scavenger Hunt activity is available for any facility or site to engage staff and encourage questions on infection prevention practices.   

“We work with larger cities and their EMS employees and with rural areas comprised primarily of volunteers. South Dakota Project Firstline is honored to provide infection prevention training and education to EMS providers,” Sime declared.   

Find the full collection of training, review the monthly newsletter, and register to attend the monthly Office Hours using the SD PFL’s website.