Number of Courses:  One Live 2-Hour Class
Credit Awarded:  2 Hours
Credit Type: Advanced
Accredited: CAPCE (F5-VILT), CE Broker (FL & TN), Pennsylvania Bureau of EMS, and Virginia Office of EMS
Enrollment Period:  One year or until completed, whichever comes first
Topics:  Sepsis & Neurological Emergencies

This CE activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education for a total of 2 Paramedic CEH.

Are you in need of a few hours to round out your Paramedic or AEMT recertification? This individual NCCP course will meet those needs and is offered several times a month with a varying schedule.

Want to see when classes are offered, click here DistanceCME Course Calendar

Topics covered in this Live NCCP L11

  • Sepsis & Neurological Emergencies (2hr)

If you need more than a few hours, this bundle is perfect for your continuing education: Live 30 Hour NCCP + Anytime. You’ll complete your NCCR requirements and also gain access to our Anytime EMS CEU Package, offering over 100 on-demand learning modules with CEUs.

Course Overview
Medical emergencies often present with vague symptoms, rapidly changing clinical conditions, and narrow treatment windows. Among the most time-sensitive conditions encountered in the prehospital environment are neurological emergencies and sepsis, both of which require rapid recognition, structured assessment, and decisive intervention. Early identification by EMS providers can significantly improve patient outcomes by preventing irreversible neurological injury, limiting organ dysfunction, and expediting definitive care. This course combines two critical National Continued Competency Program topics into a comprehensive review of seizure management and sepsis recognition. Learners explore the causes, assessment, and treatment of seizures before transitioning into the evolving science of sepsis, including early recognition, prehospital management, fluid resuscitation, and the growing role EMS plays in improving survival. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and effective communication with receiving facilities.

Neurological Emergencies
The course begins with a comprehensive review of seizure disorders, including generalized, focal onset, and unknown onset seizures. Learners examine the underlying causes of seizure activity, ranging from metabolic disturbances and hypoglycemia to toxicologic, infectious, and structural neurological conditions. Special emphasis is placed on differentiating true epileptic seizures from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, syncope, and other causes of altered mental status frequently encountered in the prehospital environment.
Participants also review the recognition and management of status epilepticus, one of the most time-sensitive neurological emergencies encountered by EMS. Airway management, oxygenation, blood glucose assessment, benzodiazepine administration, seizure pharmacology, postictal assessment, patient refusals, and ongoing neurological reassessment are discussed using current evidence-based practices designed to maximize patient safety and neurological outcomes.

Recognition of Sepsis
The second half of the course focuses on sepsis, a dysregulated systemic response to infection that remains one of the leading causes of preventable mortality worldwide. Learners review the pathophysiology of sepsis, progression from infection to septic shock, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), qSOFA screening, organ dysfunction, and the physiologic changes responsible for circulatory collapse and multiple organ system failure.
Special attention is devoted to identifying high-risk patient populations, recognizing subtle early warning signs, understanding common infectious sources, and distinguishing patients with uncomplicated infections from those progressing toward severe sepsis or septic shock.

Evidence-Based EMS Management
Building upon current research, learners examine the expanding role of EMS in improving sepsis outcomes through early recognition, aggressive assessment, fluid resuscitation, capnography, perfusion monitoring, and timely hospital notification. The course reviews current evidence supporting prehospital fluid administration, discusses the changing role of vasopressors, explores the relationship between end-tidal carbon dioxide and lactate, and reinforces the importance of rapid transport to facilities capable of definitive sepsis management.
Clinical decision-making is emphasized throughout both topics, encouraging providers to recognize evolving illness patterns rather than relying on isolated findings. Learners develop a systematic approach to identifying life-threatening medical emergencies while integrating patient history, vital signs, physical examination findings, and evolving clinical presentation into sound treatment decisions.

Clinical Application
Through realistic EMS scenarios and evidence-based discussions, participants strengthen their ability to rapidly identify neurological emergencies and septic patients before significant deterioration occurs. The course reinforces that early recognition, prompt intervention, and effective communication with receiving facilities remain some of the most powerful tools available to prehospital providers.

Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed primarily for EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics seeking to strengthen their assessment and management of neurological emergencies and sepsis. It is particularly valuable for providers responsible for recognizing time-sensitive medical conditions, initiating evidence-based prehospital treatment, performing advanced airway and circulatory management, and improving patient outcomes through early clinical recognition and intervention.