AAOS

Based on the National EMS Education Standards and endorsed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Emergency Medical Responder: Your First Response in Emergency Care, Eighth Edition with Navigate Essentials Access clearly and concisely covers every competency required of students embarking on this vital EMS role. Using clear, accessible language and proven pedagogical features designed for first responders with limited medical training, the Eighth Edition prepares law enforcement personnel, firefighters, rescue squad personnel, athletic trainers, college students, and laypersons to respond to medical emergencies in their communities. It can also be a strong stepping stone for EMT training.

Current Medical Content. The Eighth Edition incorporates current medical concepts to guide students in assessment and treatment approaches that help save lives.

Clear Application to Real-World Experiences. Realistic case studies and Voices of Experience sections in every chapter compel students to think critically, apply their learning, and expand their thinking on how to best meet day-to-day EMS challenges. Additionally, this edition addresses soft skills, personal safety, mental health, crew resource management, and the value of peer support.

Concept Reinforcement. The Eighth Edition provides a solid foundation in the basics followed by reinforcement throughout the text, allowing students to deeply learn critical concepts, build on their knowledge, and start their careers with confidence.

Key content updates to the Eighth Edition include:

• Expert content that aligns with the most current national certification standards and authorities, including the 2025 ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation) and AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines for CPR/ECC and first aid
• Pediatric and geriatric content integrated throughout the training resources
• Updated references citing the most current EMS research available
• New and updated content in Section 1 (Preparatory), Section 2 (Airway), Section 3 (Patient Assessment), Section 4 (Medical), Section 5 (Trauma), Section 6 (Special Patient Populations), and Section 7 (EMS Operation)
• New discussions on skin coloration assessment, baseline skin tone, and differences in patient presentation
• New discussion of human trafficking
• New discussion of “do not use” abbreviations
• New discussions on patient communications, including de-escalation techniques, health literacy, cultural competence, family-centered care, and translators and translator apps
• New table on the physiology of breathing and new content on hyperventilation risks and the signs of adequate breathing
• New content on situational awareness and advances in dispatch technology
• New content on medication properties, safety, and routes of administration
• New discussion on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Much more!

The Essentials Access Code includes the following expert text formats: 

• Print Textbook
• eBook
• Audiobook