As a new EMS Safety Instructor, your biggest hurdle will be teaching your first CPR class. To avoid a long gap between becoming an Instructor and teaching, we recommend diving head first into the CPR teaching world. Here are a few steps you can take to help prepare for teaching your first CPR class.
Embrace the Unknown
It’s normal to be nervous or feel unsure of yourself in the beginning. We’ve all been there. Am I ready? Will people find me credible? Will my students judge me? What happens if I make a mistake? Remember, the biggest rewards in life are just on the other side of fear.
Teaching takes practice. The truth is, you probably won’t hit the ball out of the park on the first try. Embrace it. It’s okay to let your students know you are still learning. It’s okay to make a mistake and own up to it. It’s okay to fumble your words in front of your students and laugh it off. Your students will respect you for it. It makes you more relatable and less intimidating.
Teach Family and Friends
Your first few classes will help you to shake your nerves and become more familiar with the material. We recommend teaching your spouse, family or friends in a small setting to help iron out the kinks. They can provide you with honest feedback and enjoy a few giggles with you if there are a couple of hiccups along the way.
Know the Basics
You will need to purchase materials and review your Instructor materials prior to teaching your first class.
Purchase Correct Materials
You are required to purchase a corresponding student workbook for each student. If you are teaching a CPR, AED and First Aid class, each student must be given a CPR, AED and First Aid student workbook to use during class and as a post-class reference for the next two years. Student materials must be purchased prior to teaching the class, so be sure to order with plenty of time for delivery.
Digital Versus Physical Certification Cards
When you place your order online or over the phone, you must select either digital or physical certification cards. In order to issue digital certification cards, each student must have a unique email address. If the company or student is not willing to provide a unique email, you will need to issue physical certification cards instead. This is one of the many reasons it’s important to speak with your students ahead of time to determine their needs.
Review Instructor Manual
The Instructor Manual provides all the information you will need to prepare for and teach your first class. It contains a Lecture Guide that leads you through each topic, and provides additional teaching tips, common questions and information that students will not see in their student workbook.
The Instructor Manual helps you keep the students engaged in the course and promotes learning – not just memorization – by encouraging questions and discussion. Practice using the Instructor Manual with the Course DVD or videos located in the Instructor Portal. This will help provide a more natural delivery of the information.
Use the PowerPoint
EMS Safety provides course-specific PowerPoints in the Instructor Portal at no additional charge. They provide a visual learning opportunity for students and also serve as a guide for the Instructor. Each PowerPoint has the video chapters directly embedded into the presentation and includes discussion questions throughout each topic. The PowerPoint with embedded chapters can be used instead of your Instructor Manual and DVD.
Download the PowerPoint well in advance to ensure your software is compatible and all technology is working properly. Don’t wait until the day of the class to review the slides. Feel free to tailor the PowerPoint to your unique teaching style and students’ needs. If you add additional information that is not provided by EMS Safety, clearly note that on the PowerPoint.
Ask the Expert
If a student has a question you can’t answer or if you need clarification on a topic or help choosing which materials are best for your class, use the “Ask the Expert” email feature in your Instructor Portal. One of our Program Specialists will contact you soon with an answer. They enjoy helping Instructors because better training and preparation results in better-prepared students!
FAQs, Webinars and Instructor Resources
Many Instructors ask similar questions, so be sure to review our FAQs for a quick answer. There are also many resources online in the Instructor Portal and on the EMS Safety website, such as blogs, videos, checklists and recorded webinars to help you prepare.
Comments are closed.