Delivering ECSI Courses

ECSI courses should be structured to provide the best possible educational experience for all participants. The following sections address the steps involved in offering ECSI courses.

• Course Fees
• Course Schedule
• Course Size
• Course Facility Environment
• Course Equipment and Supplies
• Successful Course Completion
• Final Written Examination
• Skills Performance
• AAOS Emergency Care and Safety Institute Course Paperwork

Course Fees ( Back To Top )

Institute Educational Centers or Institute Instructors can establish their own course fees. If course fees are charged by the Institute Educational Center or Institute Instructor, the fees should be based on local demand for ECSI courses. Consideration should be given to making the course widely available and financially self-sustaining.

Course Schedule ( Back To Top )

Each ECSI course has a predetermined schedule and length of time required to cover the objectives. Institute Educational Centers and Institute Instructors must be familiar with the schedule. The course schedule can be found in the lesson plans for each course.

Course Size ( Back To Top )

To adequately teach course material, an appropriate course size is important. The size of any course depends on several factors:

• Number of Institute Instructors
• Size of facility
• Equipment
• Teaching methods

It is recommended that course size for ECSI courses be limited to 10 participants per Institute Instructor. While it is understood that one Institute Instructor may be able to effectively cover the knowledge components of an ECSI course, participant skill performance requires more personal attention.

Course Facility Environment ( Back To Top )

Institute Educational Centers and Institute Instructors must be certain that the facility selected is adequate for proper ECSI course delivery. When selecting a facility, consider the following issues:

• Access for all participants is available.
• Appropriate seating structure to accommodate all participants.
• Adequate space for skill performance.
• Audiovisual capabilities.
• Proper lighting and acoustics.

Course Equipment and Supplies ( Back To Top )

Following is a general list of equipment and supplies necessary to run ECSI courses:

• Tables/desks and chairs for course participants
• Audiovisual equipment including computer with CD-ROM drive, LCD projector, screen, DVD player
• Dry-erase board or easel with pad and markers
• Name badges
• Registration supplies
• Course textbook for each participant and Institute Instructor
• Course Instructor Resource Manual for each Institute Instructor
• Course ToolKit CD-ROM or DVD
• Skill performance equipment (e.g. barrier device, manikins, and first aid supplies). Specific equipment needs are listed in Section 4.
• Cleaning supplies
• Photocopies of the written examination
• Photocopies of the evaluation form
• AAOS Course Completion Cards

Successful Course Completion ( Back To Top )

To earn a Course Completion Card, participants must successfully complete a final written examination and demonstrate skills competency.

Final Written Examination ( Back To Top )

ECSI final written examinations are an important part of determining whether participants have mastered the material and course objectives. ECSI final written examinations are administered at the end of a course. Participants who attended all components of the course are eligible to take the written examination. It is a closed-book examination and is corrected by the Institute Instructor. Prior to the course, the Institute Educational Center or Institute Instructor is responsible for photocopying the examination and answer key. ECSI course final written examinations require a minimum passing score of 80%.

Some participants will not pass the final written examination on the first attempt. In these cases, Institute Instructors should work with them to develop a remediation plan. The participant may take the final written examination a second time. For the second attempt, the alternate version of the examination should be given. If the participant does not pass again, he or she must retake the course to receive an AAOS Course Completion Card.

Skills Performance ( Back To Top )

Participants must be able to demonstrate the required skills. Institute Instructors need to make sure that participants can meet the objectives required for each skill. Skills performance should be evaluated in a non-threatening manner. Skills performance can be evaluated while participants practice, during a group skills check or individually.

AAOS Emergency Care and Safety Institute Course Paperwork ( Back To Top )

Participants who successfully complete a course taught by an Institute Instructor are eligible to receive an AAOS Course Completion Card. The cards are wallet-sized for the participant to keep. A copy of the card can be made and given to employers for their records. AAOS First Aid Course Completion Cards are valid for three years and AAOS CPR and AED Course Completion Cards are valid for two years.

Some participants may not want a Course Completion Card because they just want to become familiar with how to help in an emergency. These participants do not need to complete the final written examination and demonstration of competency of skills performance.

Replacing lost, damaged, or incorrect cards is the responsibility of the Institute Educational Center. Participant course rosters should be consulted to verify participant attendance before issuing a duplicate card.

The Institute Instructor must complete the following forms and submit them to the Institute Educational Center:

• Participant Course Roster - It is important for Institute Educational Centers to keep a record of participants in ECSI courses. At the conclusion of a course, the Institute Instructor must complete the participant course roster.
• Evaluation Form - The AAOS would like to continually improve ECSI courses; therefore, feedback from the course participants and Institute Instructors is very important. The Institute Educational Centers should ensure all participants and Institute Instructors complete a course evaluation form.