General Information

The Certificate in Ambulance Attendant program trains students in essential pre-hospital emergency care and patient transport procedures. Over three months, learners acquire practical knowledge of basic life support, first aid, trauma management, and ambulance equipment operations. The curriculum emphasizes patient safety, rapid response protocols, and effective emergency communication, preparing individuals to assist medical professionals during ambulance transit and urgent clinical situations.

1. Course Duration: 3 Months
2. Minimum Qualification: 10th standard pass or equivalent
3. Course Category: PARAMEDICAL
4. Total Marks: 600 (Theory 600, 6 subjects)

Course Objectives

• Teach fundamental emergency medical procedures, first aid techniques, and basic life support measures for urgent care.
• Instruct safe methods for lifting, moving, and securing patients during pre-hospital emergency transportation.
• Develop competencies in managing trauma victims and handling specialized ambulance tools, stretchers, and monitoring equipment.
• Train students in protocols for emergency radio communication, record-keeping, and coordination with hospital receiving staff.

Learning Outcomes

• Perform basic life support, CPR, and immediate first aid during medical emergencies.
• Operate ambulance equipment, stretchers, and immobilization devices safely and effectively.
• Execute proper patient handling, lifting, and transport techniques without causing secondary injuries.
• Assist healthcare providers in stabilizing trauma victims and accident cases during transit.
• Maintain clear emergency communication and adhere to standard safety and sanitation protocols.

Pass & Division Criteria

The maximum marks and minimum pass marks of Theory and Practical of each subject are given in the Mark Distribution table below. To pass, a candidate must score the minimum pass marks separately in both Theory and Practical of every subject.

The division is decided on the aggregate percentage of marks obtained, as follows —

Mark Distribution

Total marks of the course : 600

Detailed Syllabus

1. Introduction to Emergency Medical Services — Study of EMS history, organizational hierarchy, role of ambulance attendants, integration with hospitals, and primary emergency care principles in the Indian healthcare system.
2. Roles and Responsibilities of Ambulance Attendant — Understanding primary duties, professional ethics, personal hygiene, protective equipment usage, team coordination, communication skills, and responsibilities towards emergency patients.
3. Ambulance Types and Standard Equipment — Identification and working knowledge of basic life support ambulances, advanced life support ambulances, patient compartments, standard onboard tools, and diagnostic devices.
4. Infection Prevention and Control in Ambulances — Principles of disinfection, vehicle sanitization, disposal of biomedical waste, hand hygiene practices, and standard protocols to prevent cross-contamination during transit.
5. Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology Overview — Fundamental overview of major human organ systems, vital organs, circulatory paths, respiratory mechanisms, and anatomical landmarks essential for initial pre-hospital assessment.
6. Assessment of Vital Signs — Techniques of monitoring and recording pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, body temperature, pupil reaction, and oxygen saturation levels in patients.
7. Emergency Communication and Radio Protocols — Effective use of wireless communication devices, mobile networks, call codes, transmission protocols, dispatch coordination, and reporting patient condition to receiving hospitals.
8. Medico-Legal Aspects and Patient Confidentiality — Understanding informed consent, documentation standards, handling legal death on arrival, preserving evidence at crime scenes, and maintaining patient medical record privacy.
9. Daily Ambulance Maintenance and Checklist Inspection — Routine pre-shift inspection procedures, fuel checks, oxygen cylinder pressure verification, emergency lights, sirens, battery condition, and keeping logbook documentation updated.

1. Introduction to First Aid Principles — Understanding the core golden rules of first aid, priorities of treatment, scene safety assessment, bystander management, and initial emergency response protocols.
2. Initial Patient Assessment (ABCDE Approach) — Step-by-step methodology for evaluating airway patency, breathing quality, circulatory status, neurological disability, and physical exposure during pre-hospital patient triage.
3. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Adults — Recognition of sudden cardiac arrest, performing high-quality chest compressions, delivering rescue breaths, compression-ventilation ratios, and maintaining resuscitation continuity.
4. CPR Techniques for Infants and Children — Age-specific chest compression techniques, depth adjustments, ventilation volumes, single and two-rescuer protocols, and safe resuscitation procedures for pediatric patients.
5. Operation of Automated External Defibrillator (AED) — Indications for AED use, pad placement strategies, voice prompt compliance, safety precautions during shock delivery, and immediate post-shock resuscitation care.
6. Foreign Body Airway Obstruction Management — Recognizing signs of severe choking, performing back blows, abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver), chest thrusts, and managing unconscious choking victims safely.
7. Respiratory Distress and Oxygen Therapy — Recognizing signs of asphyxia, asthma attacks, hyperventilation, operating oxygen cylinders, flow meters, nasal cannulas, and applying standard non-rebreather face masks.
8. Management of Shock and Syncope — Types, causes, and recognition of hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and anaphylactic shock, alongside immediate positioning, warmth preservation, and vital stabilization measures.
9. First Aid for Poisoning and Bites — Emergency management of ingested poisons, toxic chemical inhalation, snakebites, scorpion stings, rabid dog bites, and avoiding harmful traditional interventions.
10. Managing Medical Emergencies: Seizures and Diabetes — First aid steps for grand mal seizures, epilepsy precautions, recognizing hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia signs, and stabilizing unconscious diabetic individuals promptly.

1. Principles of Body Mechanics and Ergonomics — Proper lifting postures, weight distribution principles, avoiding personal spinal strain, balance coordination, and teamwork dynamics during heavy patient lifting tasks.
2. Wheeled Stretcher Operation and Securement — Mechanism, loading, unloading, locking systems, height adjustment, and restraint strapping procedures for primary wheeled stretchers inside emergency ambulances.
3. Specialized Stretcher Usage and Techniques — Practical application and handling of scoop stretchers, folding stretchers, canvas stretchers, basket stretchers, and vacuum mattresses for challenging transfer scenarios.
4. Spinal Immobilization and Log-Roll Technique — Applying rigid cervical collars, executing coordinated four-person log-roll maneuvers, securing patients to long backboards, and immobilizing head blocks safely.
5. Carrying Techniques in Confined Spaces — Utilizing stair chairs, emergency drag methods, two-hand seat carries, and fireman carries through narrow corridors, staircases, and multi-storey domestic buildings.
6. Patient Positioning for Safe Transport — Choosing appropriate anatomical postures including recovery position, semi-Fowler position, supine, Trendelenburg, and left lateral tilt for pregnant patients during transport.
7. En-Route Patient Monitoring and Care — Ongoing clinical monitoring, re-assessing vital parameters, maintaining airway clearance, observing intravenous lines, and managing sudden deterioration inside moving vehicles.
8. Safe Emergency Vehicle Driving Coordination — Understanding ambulance road safety, handling sudden acceleration or deceleration forces, avoiding transit motion sickness, and coordinating with emergency vehicle drivers.
9. Hospital Handover and Transfer Documentation — Delivering clear verbal clinical handover reports to receiving medical staff, completing transfer slips, handing over valuables, and documenting transport times accurately.

1. Mechanism of Injury and Kinematics — Analyzing trauma energy patterns, vehicular crash impacts, pedestrian collisions, falls from heights, and predicting internal physiological injuries systematically.
2. Bleeding Control and Hemorrhage Management — Identification of arterial, venous, and capillary bleeding, applying direct pressure, pressure bandages, hemostatic agents, and safe application of emergency tourniquets.
3. Dressing and Bandaging Techniques — Principles of wound care, cleaning edges, selecting sterile gauze dressings, applying roller bandages, triangular slings, and securing open trauma wounds.
4. Head, Neck, and Facial Trauma — Recognizing signs of concussion, skull fractures, intracranial pressure, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, facial bone fractures, and maintaining cervical spine alignment.
5. Chest and Abdominal Trauma Care — Emergency management of flail chest, open pneumothorax, three-sided occlusive dressings, evisceration care, blunt abdominal trauma, and rapid transport needs.
6. Fractures, Dislocations, and Splinting Techniques — Identification of open and closed fractures, joint dislocations, neurovascular checks, and applying rigid, pneumatic, traction, and improvised anatomical splints.
7. Management of Burn Injuries — Classification of thermal, electrical, and chemical burns, calculating affected body surface area, wound cooling, applying sterile covers, and preventing hypothermia.
8. Environmental Trauma and Temperature Extremes — Emergency interventions for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, hypothermia, frostbite, near-drowning incidents, and electrocution hazards encountered at accident sites.
9. Triage and Mass Casualty Incident Response — Principles of disaster management, color-coded triage tags (START protocol), prioritizing treatment, organizing staging areas, and coordinating multi-agency accident rescue efforts.

1. Introduction to Ambulance Types and Layout — Overview of basic and advanced life support ambulances, interior layout, ergonomic placement of supplies, and essential pre-hospital medical equipment required for patient transport.
2. Oxygen Delivery Systems and Cylinders — Handling portable and fixed oxygen cylinders, pressure regulators, flowmeters, humidifiers, nasal cannulas, simple face masks, and safety precautions against fire hazards.
3. Suction Apparatus and Airway Devices — Operation, cleaning, and maintenance of portable electrical and manual suction machines, catheter selection, oropharyngeal airways, and nasopharyngeal airways for clear patient airway.
4. Patient Immobilization and Transfer Equipment — Proper usage and maintenance of wheeled stretchers, scoop stretchers, spine boards, cervical collars, head immobilizers, and various splints for trauma victim stabilization.
5. Basic Diagnostic and Monitoring Devices — Principles and handling of automated external defibrillators, pulse oximeters, sphygmomanometers, stethoscopes, glucometers, and digital thermometers used during patient vital sign monitoring.
6. Personal Protective Equipment and Infection Control — Selection and proper donning and doffing of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene protocols, sanitization procedures, and universal precautions against infectious diseases.
7. Vehicle Safety Checks and Maintenance — Routine pre-trip vehicular inspections, siren and warning light operations, fuel level verification, tire pressure checks, and emergency vehicle safety regulations.
8. Hazardous Materials and Road Safety Protocols — Recognition of hazardous material placards, scene size-up safety, defensive driving awareness, emergency road flares, and protective measures during roadside accident scenes.
9. Bio-Medical Waste Management in Ambulances — Segregation, color-coded collection, handling, and safe disposal of biomedical waste, sharps, contaminated linens, and body fluids inside the emergency ambulance vehicle.
10. Daily Checklist and Inventory Management — Preparing daily ambulance equipment logs, expiry date tracking of emergency consumables, replenishment protocols, and equipment handover procedures during shift changes.

1. Fundamentals of EMS Communication Systems — Understanding emergency medical services telecommunication, role of control rooms, dedicated emergency numbers, cellular networks, and wireless radio systems used in field operations.
2. Dispatch Center Coordination and Protocols — Standard receiving procedures of emergency calls, gathering critical incident details, route planning, traffic management, and continuous coordination with the central dispatch unit.
3. Radio Telephony and Transmission Etiquette — Principles of two-way radio operation, phonetics, standard brevity codes, communication clarity, radio discipline, and relaying vital patient information concisely over radio frequencies.
4. On-Scene Patient Assessment and Triage — Conducting rapid primary and secondary field surveys, Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, baseline vital signs recording, and simple triage and rapid treatment protocols.
5. Handover Techniques and Hospital Coordination — Effective verbal handover methods using SBAR or MIST formats, liaising with receiving hospital trauma teams, and safe transfer of patient care responsibilities.
6. Documentation and PCR Maintenance — Accurate completion of pre-hospital Patient Care Reports, documenting chief complaints, interventions, times, refusal of treatment, and legal significance of clinical records.
7. Medico-Legal Aspects and Ethics — Understanding informed consent, patient confidentiality, duty of care, negligence, death-on-arrival situations, and handling police cases in Indian medico-legal frameworks.
8. Crowd Control and Scene Management — Establishing scene perimeters, coordinating with local police and fire services, managing bystander panic, and ensuring crew safety in volatile field situations.
9. Mass Casualty Incidents and Disaster Response — Principles of incident command systems, multi-agency coordination, triage tag application, staging areas, and structured resource allocation during large-scale urban disasters.
10. Stress Management and Responder Well-being — Identifying critical incident stress, coping strategies, fatigue management, psychological first aid, and promoting mental resilience among emergency ambulance attendant personnel.