09 - Shock

Shock is the ninth title of Action Training Systems' Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) series, and SkillsTrain, the authorised ATS distributor in South Africa, supplies it locally as part of that series. It teaches the responder to spot and treat a patient whose circulation is failing before it becomes irreversible.

The title presents the causes, signs and symptoms of shock and demonstrates the techniques for managing a patient in shock. It then covers anaphylactic shock specifically, its causes, the assessment findings that point to it and the treatment a responder provides. It is aimed at EMRs and first responders who need to recognise shock early, including the fast-moving allergic kind, and act before the patient deteriorates. The module keeps the focus on the handful of interventions a first responder can realistically deliver while help is on the way.

The content follows the United States National EMS Education Standards for the Emergency Medical Responder, and As an ATS EMS title it belongs to a library that ATS accredits through CAPCE, the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education, where each online interactive course carries one hour of continuing education and counts as Distributive Education under the NREMT National Continued Competency Program. It uses the same teach, test and track model as the rest of the ATS interactive range: a learner is assessed as they work through the material, and any section answered incorrectly is replayed before they can move on. The programme runs about 17 minutes and is supplied on USB or as a classroom streaming option, individually or as part of the complete 25-title EMR series.

Within the same EMR series, SkillsTrain also supplies Bleeding, Cardiovascular and Resuscitation, so the circulation and resuscitation modules train as a set.