Which CPR Class do I need?

Which CPR Class do I need?

One of the most common questions we get asked is, “Which CPR class do I need”?

As an American Heart Association Training Center we understand this confusion, after-all, there are a few different CPR Classes to choose from.

The truth of the matter is, in terms of the mechanics of performing CPR, everybody is trained to do CPR the same way with a few minor differences depending on which class you take.

In all classes you will hear (or have already heard if getting re-certified) “Push Hard and Fast at a rate of at least 100 per minute, delivering cycles of 30 compressions to 2 breaths” (ratio 30:2) over and over and over again.

So what’s the difference? 

In order to figure out which class you need, you should start by asking yourself,  “Do I work in the HealthCare field or not?”

Why do you need CPR Certification?

The first question we are going to ask if you aren’t sure is, “Why do you need a CPR Certification?” We ask this because we are trying to determine if you work in the HealthCare field or Not.

In either case, below are some of the reasons why you would need a CPR Certification:

1. WorkPlace requirement either (HealthCare or Non-Healthcare -OSHA)
2. State requirement for Family Matters (Foster Care, Adoption)
3. Schooling Pre-requisite (for EMT, Nursing, Personal Trainer, etc)
4. Personal desire to learn CPR so you can be prepared in the event of an emergency.

Healthcare Provider CPR Class

Once we determine that you work in the healthcare field (or are going to school in pursuit of a job in the healthcare field) we will confirm that your CPR class of choice is the American Heart Associations Basic Life Support (BLS Healthcare Providers) CPR Class.

Examples of credentialed individuals considered as HealthCare Providers include but are not limited to:

1. Nurses
2. Physicians
3. Certified Nurses Assistant (CNA’s)
4. Paramedics
5. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s)
6. Dental
7. Physical Therapy
8. Respiratory Therapist

This course satisfies the workplace requirement for HealthCare Providers and is inclusive of Adult, Child, and Infant CPR, use of an AED and Choking.

You learn to administer these skills not only by yourself, but as part of a team utilizing equipment and techniques commonly found in a healthcare setting.

Individuals required to have this healthcare CPR class work in a position where they may need to respond to a person in cardiac arrest in an emergency setting.  This CPR class also covers rescue breathing and ventilating patients with advanced airways in place.

Caution, as a HealthCare Provider you should take this American Heart Association BLS CPR Course to satisfy your requirements as this certification is accepted industry-wide.

A lot of individuals register into ‘cheaper’ classes that are Non- AHA and ultimately come to our class because their employer or school did not accept the Non-AHA card costing them both time and money.

Non-HealthCare (Basic) CPR Class

Okay, we determined you are in no way considered part of HealthCare, so the American Heart Association ‘HeartSaver CPR & AED’ class is for you.

This course is considered the ‘Basic’ level of CPR and satisfies both OSHA  workplace requirements and anybody else that wants to learn CPR for their own personal knowledge.

Examples of individuals that would need this class include are but not limited to:

1. School Teachers
2. Personal Trainers
3. Construction Workers
4. Anybody looking to learn CPR for general knowledge

Again, this course is intended for individuals that ARE NOT in the HealthCare field.  Training includes Adult, Child, and Infant CPR, use of an AED and Choking.

You learn how to administer these skills by yourself to simulate the scenario of being in a non-healthcare workplace and taking action.

Pediatric First AED CPR and AED

This course teaches students to respond to and manage illnesses and injuries in a child or infant in the first few minutes until professional help arrives.

Examples of individuals that would need this course include but are not limited to:

1. DayCare Providers
2. Foster Care Workers
3. ChildCare workers
4. Foster / Adoption Families

The Pediatric First AED CPR and AED class is very specific because it satisfies State requirements for individuals listed above.

By State law, this class will last 8 hours (not including breaks) so do not expect to get out any earlier.  The class itself will cover Child and Infant CPR, use of the AED and Choking.  It also includes additional content such as First Aid, care for Asthma and use of the Epinephrine Pen.

Those of you that need this class may expect to see “Stickers” on your certification card so lets clear that up.  This class is offered by other curriculums (ASHI or Medic First Aid for example).

All those other curriculums (Non -American Heart Association) DO NOT have the same oversight or approval as the AHA so the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) provides that oversight.

In doing so, they provide “Stickers” to be placed on those certification cards so that governing bodies know the course you took was approved.

The American Heart Association IS ALREADY APPROVED by the EMSA and DOES NOT require these stickers to be placed on the certification cards.

Hopefully by providing brief descriptions of the available AHA CPR Classes along with who should take which class, you now have the understanding needed to choose wisely.

If, however, you are uncertain for any reason please call our offices and we will be happy to get you registered into the class you need!