PHECC EMT study guide
PHECC EMT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The PHECC EMT examination is the assessment route by which candidates demonstrate the knowledge required for the National Qualification in Emergency Medical Technology (NQEMT) at EMT level, the qualification the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council names as the academic requirement for joining its Register. It is intended for people preparing to practise as Emergency Medical Technicians in Ireland, typically following a course with a PHECC-recognised institution. The PHECC EMT study guide has 5 sections and about 1,485 words.
01Airway and Breathing
Start with the fundamentals: manual manoeuvres (head-tilt/chin-lift in the uninjured patient, jaw-thrust where spinal injury is suspected), then simple adjuncts (oropharyngeal airway in the unconscious patient without a gag reflex, nasopharyngeal airway where the mouth cannot be opened). Suction precedes adjuncts when vomit or blood is present.
320 words, about 2 min02Cardiology and Resuscitation
Build a systematic approach to chest pain: onset, character, radiation, associated symptoms (sweating, nausea, breathlessness), and risk factors. Understand the difference between angina and infarction in terms of duration and relief.
315 words, about 2 min03Trauma and Musculoskeletal Injuries
Use a structured approach - catastrophic haemorrhage control, airway with cervical spine precautions, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure. Control life-threatening external bleeding before moving on; recognise the signs of internal bleeding (tachycardia, delayed capillary refill, altered mental status, hypotension as a late sign).
276 words, about 1 min04Medical Emergencies and Patient Assessment
Be fluent in the sequence of history taking and physical assessment: scene size-up, primary survey, focused history (including the classic OPQRST for pain and SAMPLE for history), and secondary survey. Understand that the primary survey identifies and treats immediate threats, while the secondary survey gathers detail.
261 words, about 1 min05Professional Practice, Ethics and Operations
Understand that an EMT practises within a defined scope and must recognise when to escalate to a higher level of care. Consent may be expressed, implied (in an unconscious patient), or refused by a patient with capacity.
313 words, about 2 min