NorthWest Arkansas Community College

Emergency Medical Responder

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Becoming an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) can kickstart your future in paramedic science or fire science. EMRs help those in medical emergencies by performing basic life saving services such as taking vital signs, controlling bleeding, and performing CPR. 

As the first medically trained person to arrive on the scene of an emergency, an EMR's initial care is essential as it's provided before any advanced emergency medical care. It could mean the difference between life or death.  

EMR Courses:

In NWACC’s EMR courses, you will participate in true-to-life scenarios and practice patient care with real equipment. These two courses include the utilization of the “flipped classroom” to enable more hands-on-training. Lectures are recorded and available for students to watch at their convenience, and all testing is done online prior to the class session. The instructor reviews tests and covers problem areas prior to the hands-on learning. Research has shown that this method of instruction is effective for retention purposes.

Topics include:

• CPR and use of bag-valve mask
• Vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiration)
• Assessment techniques
• Bleeding control
• Splinting
• Spinal care
• Childbirth 

Completion

Upon successful completion of the EMR courses, you will receive a certificate for EMR and an American Heart Association CPR card. 

Admission Process

NWACC’s EMR courses are college-level credit classes. In order to register for the classes, you will first need to enroll at NWACC. During the enrollment process, you will be given a student ID and password. These are necessary to register for the EMR courses titled EMTA 1022 and EMTA 1021.  

Get started:

• Apply to be an NWACC student at nwacc.edu/apply
• Obtain a student ID and password
• Log into My NWACC to register for the EMTA 1022 and EMTA 1021 classes.
• Classes must be taken during the same semester.