FP-C study guide
FP-C · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Flight Paramedic Certification (FP-C®) is one of the specialty board certifications offered by the International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC). IBSC describes specialty certification as a voluntary credentialing process designed to validate essential knowledge and judgment required for safe and competent practice, and states that its certifications provide designations to paramedic professionals who demonstrate the knowledge and skills essential to critical care paramedics. The FP-C study guide has 10 sections and about 2,513 words.
01Advanced Airway Management
Advanced airway management in transport medicine centers on oxygenation and ventilation first, definitive airway second. Candidates must understand airway assessment (Mallampati, mouth opening, thyromental distance, neck mobility, obstruction, trauma, obesity), preparation with a failed-airway plan, preoxygenation, suction, positioning, and waveform capnography.
286 words, about 1 min02Assessment and Diagnostics
Assessment in flight medicine is a structured, repeated process: primary survey (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure), resuscitation, secondary survey, and ongoing reassessment. Understand how transport alters diagnostics: noise limits auscultation, vibration and motion degrade ECG and blood pressure readings, pulse oximetry may lag behind rapid desaturation, and ultrasound is operator- and environment-dependent.
272 words, about 1 min03Flight Physiology and Environmental Considerations
Altitude changes gas behavior. Boyle’s law explains expansion of trapped gas as barometric pressure falls; Dalton’s law explains partial pressures of oxygen and other gases; Henry’s law explains dissolved-gas bubbles and decompression sickness.
278 words, about 1 min04Medical and Thoracic Emergencies
Medical and thoracic emergencies require rapid differentiation of time-critical conditions: acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary edema, severe asthma or COPD, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and thoracic trauma. Know indications for aspirin, nitroglycerin, CPAP, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and antiarrhythmics, plus when these are contraindicated.
246 words, about 1 min05Musculoskeletal and Trauma
Trauma care follows a primary survey with hemorrhage control as a priority. Understand tourniquet application, wound packing, pelvic binder placement, traction splinting, spinal motion restriction, and fracture stabilization.
248 words, about 1 min06Neonatal and Pediatric Patients
Pediatric and neonatal care is weight-based and developmentally sensitive. Understand the pediatric assessment triangle: appearance, work of breathing, and circulation.
238 words, about 1 min07Neurological Emergencies
Neurological emergencies include stroke, traumatic brain injury, seizures and status epilepticus, altered mental status, and spinal cord injury. Prioritize airway, oxygenation, ventilation, and glucose.
225 words, about 1 min08Patient Safety and Transport Operations
Transport safety combines crew resource management, checklists, risk assessment, and clear communication. Understand sterile cockpit concepts during critical phases, landing-zone safety, aircraft egress, oxygen and medical-gas handling, infection control, and handoff communication.
247 words, about 1 min09Pharmacology and Medication Safety
Prehospital pharmacology requires understanding indications, contraindications, doses, routes, onset, adverse effects, and drug interactions. High-alert medications include vasopressors, insulin, opioids, sedation agents, antiarrhythmics, and concentrated electrolytes.
229 words, about 1 min10Shock and Resuscitation
Shock is inadequate tissue perfusion. Classify it as hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic, obstructive, or neurogenic, and recognize compensated versus decompensated states.
244 words, about 1 min