Emergency Medical Services in South Africa - Standards - Training

Training

In South Africa there are currently 3 different levels of proficiency in Short course training:

• BAA or Basic Ambulance Assistant - This is a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, and approximately the equivalent of the U.S. EMT-B. This is the minimum qualification to be a crew member of an ambulance in South Africa. Training includes a 160 hour course consisting of lectures and practical simulations. The lectures cover basic anatomy and physiology, basic life support (including both CPR and first aid), emergency care, the use of ambulance equipment, including Automated External Defibrillators (AED), and various medico-legal issues.

• AEA or Ambulance Emergency Assistant - This is an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) certification, and generally close to the same scope of the U.S. EMT-Iin most skills but the South African countparts have much more training in comparsion, but with some added skills. To apply for this training, candidates must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of practical experience as a BAA and they must pass an entrance exam to be eligible for the course. As an alternative route to certification, those completing the more advanced tertiary qualifications may challenge the examination and be certified as an AEA after successfully completing their first or second year of training. Training at this level consists of a 470 hour course, consisting of 240 hours of lectures and practical simulations, and 230 hours of experiential learning. AEA's are qualified to practice various invasive techniques such as IV therapy, needle Cricothyroidotomy and needle Thoracocentesis, as well as Electrocardiogram interpretation, manual external defibrillation, and are allowed to administer various drugs.

• CCA or Critical Care Assistant and the "National Diploma" - These are Advanced Life Support (ALS) Candidates must complete a 1,200 hour course to qualify as a CCA in addition to prior BAA and AEA qualifications, this level usually takes more than 4 years to complete. the ND is three year full-time study at college. CCA / ND are both registered as a Paramedic with the Health Professions Council South Africa and they can continue to do an additional 1 yr post Graduate study is available to obtain the Btech degree.

Below are two new university qualifications;

• ECT or Emergency Care Technician -This mid-level course is of two years duration, and exits on a level just above what many know as Intermediate Life Support (ILS), but below Advanced Life Support (ALS). This course is covered at 5 different training colleges in South Africa. Students who pass this course are eligible to apply to the HPCSA to be registered in the category of Emergency Care Technician (ECT). Lebone College of Emergency Care is situated in Pretoria.

• BTech/BEMC or The Bachelor Degree Technology or Bachelor Degree in Emergency Medicical Care, is a four year professional degree and students who achieve this degree are eligible to be registered with the HPCSA in the register for Emergency Care Practitioner (ECP) which has an additional scope of practice. The most notable addition in stand-alone capabilities include Thrombolysis and Rapid sequence induction. ECP's are also trained in the rescue disciplines offered by their University, normally up to the level of Advanced Rescue Practitioner. Example: High Angle II-, Motor Vehicle-, Fire Search and Rescue-, Aviation-, Confined Space-, Structural Collapse-, Industrial and Agricultural-, Trench-, Aquatic Rescue, etc. The advantage of the Btech qualification is that it is a university qualification that is consistent with the international industry trend.

Further opportunities for educational advancement exist for the ECP, as they are able to articulate into various Masters (M.EMC)(Mphil.EM)(MSc.EM) and Doctorate (DEMC)(PhD) programmes.

All EMS personnel in South Africa are required to meet the standards of the governing body, the Health Professions Council of South Africa. A formal Register is maintained for each type of EMS certification. All health practitioners in The Republic of South Africa are regulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in terms of legislation set out in the Health Professions ACT. To confirm a practitioner's qualification and license you can check the I register