Organise a PTC course

This page is intended as a checklist for those intending to set up a PTC course in their area.

If you don’t already have PTC in your country or region, you should also read ‘Introducing PTC to a country‘.

Step 1

Identify a Local Course Coordinator – ideally someone with access to phone/fax/email.  This person is responsible for liaising with the Regional PTC Coordinator and PTC Head Office to organise the course.  If you are unsure who your Regional Coordinator is, please contact us to find out.

Step 2

The Local Coordinator should then liaise with the Regional Coordinator and PTC Head Office to:

  • Arrange a date for the course.  Dates should be arranged at least 6 months in advance, 9 months if possible.  The PTC Foundation course is 2 days long; however the proven ’5 day model’ is usually employed, consisting of a 2 day Foundation course, a 1 day Instructors course, followed by a further 2 day Foundation course led by the newly trained Instructors.
  • Identify funding/budget.  The Primary Trauma Care Foundation is a non-profit organisation; course instructors are not paid a salary or an honorarium.  However, course participants are usually asked to make a small voluntary contribution  (appropriate to the locaility in which the course is run) towards running costs.
  • Invite participants.  The number of candidates on the course should be limited to between 16 and 20. It is important that no more than twenty delegates are admitted as this dilutes the time available in the practical sessions.
  • Identify suitable PTC Instructors.  There should be a minimum of 2 instructors for every 20 delegates.
  • Arrange a suitable venue / catering arrangements / OHP or slide projector / mannequins (note that only basic mannequins are required).
  • Check you have course materials available in the local language, and arrange for translation if needed (this usually takes around 6 to 9 months).
  • Inform local newspapers/media of the PTC course taking place, and encourage them to give it publicity!

Step 3

Once sufficient details are known, the details of the course should be published here on the PTC website.  This should be done either by completing the ‘New course’ form here, or by emailing details to admin@primarytraumacare.org.

Step 4

Each PTC course should be part of a wider strategy for the running of future PTC courses in the area.

If you have queries regarding the setting up or running of a PTC course, please do not hesitate to contact us.