Common Phrases

The online learning for EMS ConnectME includes some common phrases to help Learners communicate in challenging or uncomfortable situations. This document is intended to be a reference for Learners and Mentors to review these phrases.

If a Learner becomes aware of an imminent hazard:

• “Wait! There’s a safety risk!”

If a Learner is asking for help:

• “Something is bothering me, and I need your help.”
• “I’ve been thinking a lot about something that happened recently. Can we talk more about it?”
• “I’m feeling uncomfortable because of how someone is treating me, and I need your help.”

If a Learner is asked to do something that is not allowed:

• “I’m sorry. I’m an EMS Learner and I am not allowed to do that.”

If a Learner is asked to do something that is allowed, but that they have not yet been trained on:

• “I don’t know how to do that yet. Can you please show me?”
• “I’m sorry. I’m an EMS Learner and I have not been trained to do that.”
• “I don’t feel comfortable doing that.”

If a Learner is asked to share information or stories from an EMS call:

• “I can’t talk about things that happen on an EMS call. It’s illegal. But I’d be happy to talk about the other things I’ve been doing as an EMS Learner.”
• “I’m sorry. I can’t talk about what happens on an EMS call.”
• “I’m sorry, I can’t talk about it. My patients need to know that they are safe being treated by me, and that I won’t spread rumors about them afterward.”
• “Please stop pressuring me about this. I am not going to tell you anything.”

If a patient talks to or touches the Learner in a way they do not like:

• “Please do not say things like that.”
• “Please do not touch me.”

If approached by a bystander asking for information about the events of an ongoing EMS call:

• “I’m sorry. I’m an EMS Learner learning about EMS and I think you should ask my Mentor your questions.”