Prehospital Ventilator Life Support (PHVLS)

A Mechanical Ventilation Master Class for EMS Professionals

An immersive learning experience on the art and science of mechanical ventilation unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

The Definitive Course for Mechanical Ventilation Training for EMS

Training designed to meet the unique challenges of mechanical ventilation care in the prehospital environment.

Workshop Includes

  • 2-Day Hands-On Workshop

    • Workshop is tailored to your specific equipment and guidelines

  • Interactive patient scenarios designed to challenge learners to think critically, problem-solve, and apply what they’ve learned.

  • Comprehensive final exam

  • Downloadable study guide

  • Downloadable certificate of completion

  • 16 hours of continuing education credit for EMS and Nurses.

  • 3-year certification

  • Students are strongly recommended to take Basic Ventilator Life Support (BVLS) before this workshop.

    • Discounted BVLS + PHVLS Bundle available

Workshop Requirements

  • Must hold a current A-EMT, Paramedic, RT, or RN license.

    • Physician Advisors are also welcome and encouraged to attend.

    * Students must attend the entire workshop to receive credit. Partial credit will not be awarded.

Continuing Education Hours

  • RN hours awarded through the California Board of Nursing

  • EMS Hours awarded through FlightCrit, a Colorado approved EMS Training Group

Course covers…

  • Basic principles and importance of early effective mechanical ventilation

  • Equipment and Logistical Challenges in the out-of-hospital environment

  • Critical A&P Review

  • Essential Gas Law and Their Application

  • Effective Delivery of Non-Invasive Ventilation (HFNC / CPAP / BPAP)

  • ETT / Surgical Airways / Supraglottic Devices Considerations

  • Breath Types, Vent Settings, Alarms, Triggers, and Limits, including

    • Pressure Control vs. Volume Control

    • Tidal Volume, Respiratory Rate, PEEP, FiO2, Flow, and Driving Pressure,

  • Basic and Advanced Modes available on transport ventilators, including

    • Pressure Support, CMV, Assist Control, SIMV, PRVC, IRV, APRV, ASV

  • Basic and Advanced Patient Monitoring and Troubleshooting, including

    • Blood Gasses, SpO2, EtCO2, and Volumetric Capnography

    • Loops and Pressure / Flow / Volume Waveforms

    • Lung Point-of-Care-Ultrasound

  • Patient Management in the out-of-hospital environment

    • Cardiac Arrest

      Trauma / Burns / Drowning

    • Severe Obstructive and Restrictive Physiology

      • Static and Dynamic Compliance

      • Time Constants

  • Special Population

    • Chronic vented patients

    • Pediatric, Geriatric, Obstetrics

Schedule a course for your team today!

Contact Us!

Prehospital Mechanical Ventilation is Supported by both the National Association for EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)

National Association for EMS Physicians Position Statement on Prehospital Mechanical Ventilation

NAEMSP recommends the use of invasive mechanical ventilation for hypoxic respiratory failure, hypercapnic respiratory failure, and airway protection. These may be on initial contact from an emergency ground ambulance response, or during interfacility transfers via critical care teams.

EMS Clinicians must Receive Training in the General Principles of Mechanical Ventilation as Well as Detailed Training in the Operation of the Specific System(s) used by the EMS Agency.

American Association for Respiratory Care Position Statement on Pre-Hospital Ventilator Management

It is the position of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) that all persons involved in the setup, initiation, application, and maintenance of mechanical ventilators in the pre-hospital setting be formally trained in both the clinical and disease-specific applications of mechanical ventilation.

The AARC recommends that all pre-hospital providers of mechanical ventilation be required to demonstrate competence, at regular intervals, in the use and manipulation of all mechanical ventilators used during the transport of sick and injured patients.

More Information

Registration Fee: $375 per student*

Includes all travel expenses
Minimum Class Size = 12
Maximum class size depends on the number of available ventilators

*Fees for classes held outside the continental US may be different