Frequently Asked Questions
1
Why would schools choose Act First vs those connected to health systems?
Act First’s team of instructors is composed solely of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) that have been trained on how to use each skill on the field and how to teach students. In addition, Act First is a nonprofit funded by a “pay-what-you-can” model, providing access to lifesaving skills to schools who may not typically be able to afford them.
2
What’s the change in outcome in these various scenarios if someone has been educated? For example, how much more likely is it that someone’s life will be saved?
Short answer, the impact is drastic. We carefully chose our three courses not only because they are simple to do, but also because these interventions are crucial for bystanders to perform once they are witness to these events. If these lessons are implied immediately once witnessed, they dramatically improve the chance of outcomes of patients while in the hospital.
3
How do you earn the trust of and engage students in the learning — in other words, why do they connect with you / your trainers?
Does your programming include any elements of trauma-informed care and community healing for those who become equipped to deal with these life-threatening situations, or is it solely focused on the necessary medical training?
We understand that our lessons contain sensitive issues for many. However, the reality is that the student population we engage most with are not alien to them and oftentimes are surrounded by them due to their environment. Our purpose then is not to teach them about these troubling issues, but just how to save the lives of those around them. We always allow students to step out before or during the lesson if necessary. We also include a public health discussion before teaching the medical trainings as a way of telling the students we recognize what they may have known all their lives, and now we are just showing them how they can help.
4
Are there other organizations that have already implemented a similar initiative?
We are the first long-term opioid reversal and bleed prevention education program in Philadelphia ever. There are multiple small groups that teach lessons occasionally, but we are the first to teach all three at once and to high school students.
5
Do we have restrictions on who we are teaching?
We primarily teach high students. Act First is also collaborating with other groups to teach some of our lessons to community organizations, homeless shelters, and churches, but that work is volunteer work for our instructors.