HOW TO CHOOSE A CPR CERTIFICATION CLASS

TOP 10 CPR CLASS QUESTIONS

CHOOSING A CPR CERTIFICATION CLASS

If you are lost trying to figure out which CPR Class you need, you’ve come to the right place. We know finding the correct answers about CPR certification can be tricky. In this Guide we are going to look at some of the most commonly asked CPR questions.

Which CPR certification level do I need?

Nearly everyone who works or goes to school in a medical setting should get BLS certified. The healthcare workers that need BLS Certification include:

EMTs
Firefighters
Dentists
Medical assistants
Paramedics

Dental assistants
Nurses (RN)
Licensed vocational nurses (LVN)
Occupational therapists
Medical Students

Respiratory therapists
Hospital technicians
Physical therapists
CNAs
and many more

This course is designed for the general public and is the standard level of CPR AED certification. We have a few variations depending on your requirements. Many laypeople & profession take this course as a step towards emergency preparedness, such as: 

Nannies
Construction workers
Nursing home employees
Coaches
Babysitters

Camp counselors
School bus drivers
Personal trainers
Teachers
Retail and other corporate organizations

Daycare workers
Restaurant workers
Hotel Workers
Warehouse employees

This course is designed for anyone who is in close contact with infants and small children. Many parents and daycare workers take this course as a step towards emergency preparedness, Professions that generally get a Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification include:

Daycare workers
Preschool teachers & staff

Nannies
Babysitters

Do I Need an AED Certification?

Accidents & emergencies often happen at work, because of this OSHA and employers require AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training. All of our CPR Classes include AED training & Certification. Need an AED for your workplace? We sell AED’s at affordable prices. Visit our AED page or contact us for more details.

Do I need First Aid Certification?

You may need First Aid training & certification to satisfy an OSHA mandated job regulation, you should verify your employers requirements before registering for one of our First Aid classes. Being first aid trained can help save lives in an emergency. Giving high quality first aid care can play a huge role in a person’s recovery time and can even make the difference between having a temporary injury that heals rather than a long-term injury or disability. If you have children or will be working with kids, First Aid training is wise to have, even if it’s not required.

Do I Need Infant and Child CPR Certifications?

Some jobs require CPR certification including infant and child CPR skills. Such jobs include childcare workers, daycare workers & foster parents. American Heart Association & American Red Cross CPR training centers, like Save A Life CPR, can be very helpful for addressing this because we include child and baby CPR in all of our cpr classes. A class focusing on infant and child skills will have special infant manikin’s provided to train on because the techniques used on an adult are quite different than those used on an infant.

What is Hands-Only CPR?

Hands-Only CPR was designed to teach lifesaving CPR skills to as many people as possible. The differences Between Hands-Only CPR and “Standard” CPR is that Hands-Only CPR does not include rescue breath training and generally does not provide certifications or AED training. Hands-only CPR entails using only chest compressions. What’s great about it is that training is usually quick and free and anyone can watch or take the class. The American Heart Association has even installed Hands-Only CPR kiosks in large airports to help with the actual skills part of hands-only CPR.

If you need BLS or CPR certification for work or regulatory requirements, Hands-Only CPR is probably not going to be what you need. With that said, if you don’t have the time or money to take a full CPR class, we encourage you to watch a quick video on performing Hands-Only CPR, it could save a life.

Should I Register For A 100% Online CPR Certification Class?

Learning lifesaving heart CPR skills is very important. Not everyone can afford a CPR class with an instructor teaching in-person. Some can’t physically attend an in-person CPR class. If you are interested in learning life saving skills, taking an online only training course can be a great idea.

With that said, if you have the time & money or need be certified because of a work requirement, we recommend avoiding these 100% online classes. Taking a class in-person under the guidance of an expert with proper training devices like adult and infant manikins with feedback response and “lungs” for rescue breath training is essential to properly practicing and proving competence in the skills of CPR. This is why most employers don’t accept online only courses.

Top emergency training providers like the AHA know people want the convenience of an online course and they came up with the best solution. You can take what’s called a Hybrid Online Course (Blended Learning course). These are the most popular courses that Save A Life CPR offers. Blended Learning courses allow you to take the class online and then practice under the guidance of an expert with advanced training tools, like CPR manikins. 

Both the Red Cross and American Heart Association offer certifications for hybrid online courses and they are generally accepted as widely as the classroom only courses are. The ecards are actually the same, its just the class delivery method is what differs. Save A Life CPR recommends a Blended Learning Course for most people but classroom only courses are still the best if you enjoy a traditional class experience rather than dealing with an online hybrid class.

Which CPR Provider Should I Get My Certification from?

There are many organizations that provide CPR and First Aid certification & ecard, but the two most reputable organizations are the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Red Cross, both of which we provide. Many employers & regulatory agencies also accept certification from the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) or other organizations. Please make sure to verify with your employer before enrolling in one of our CPR classes. We prefer to play it safe and recommend CPR Certifications from either the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.

What is Blended Learning (Hybrid Online Course)?

The AHA and American Red Cross understand people want the convenience of an online course and they came up with a solution that offers great flexability. You can take what’s called a Hybrid Online Course (Blended Learning course). These are the most popular courses that Save A Life CPR offers. Blended Learning courses allow you to take the class online and then practice under the guidance of an expert with advanced training tools, like CPR manikins. 

Both the Red Cross and American Heart Association offer certifications for hybrid online courses and they are generally accepted as widely as the classroom only courses are. The ecards are actually the same, its just the class delivery method is what differs. Save A Life CPR recommends a Blended Learning Course for most people but classroom only courses are still the best if you enjoy a traditional class experience rather than dealing with an online hybrid class.

What Certifications Does Save A Life CPR Offer?

Here at Save A Life CPR TC we offer American Heart & Red Cross Certifications that are good for 2 years. There are many combinations of training that can be customized for specific needs, but our most popular options are:

CPR AED & First Aid Class  (Recommended for the general public and teachers) – This class trains participants to recognize and care for first aid, breathing, and sudden cardiac emergencies. It satisfies OSHA/workplace regulatory requirements and meets the CPR requirement for the California Teaching Credential.

Pediatric CPR & First Aid Class – This class incorporates the latest science and teaches students how to respond to cardiac and breathing emergencies to help victims of all ages but specializes in young children. This class satisfied EMSA regulatory requirements for childcare  and daycare workers.

CPR AED Certification – This class will prepare you to recognize and care for breathing, and cardiac emergencies involving adults, children and infants. It also goes into AED training as well. 

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (Recommended for Doctors, DDS, Nurses, EMT’s, and Firefighters) – This class is designed to train medical workers & students to respond to cardiac and breathing emergencies for adult, child, and infant victims. This training is consistent with the 2020 AHA Guidelines for CPR/ECC is the required certification for healthcare workers as well as public safety workers.

How Do I Sign Up for a BLS, CPR AED & First Aid Class?

We list all of our upcoming classes listed on our schedule for your convenience. We also will travel to your business or location and provide on-site CPR & First Aid training. This is where we bring the classroom to you and employees at your location. We can train large groups of 50 or more people. Our On-Site Group Training options offer the most flexibility and we provide discounts for larger groups.

Flexible Class Options

Instructor Led Training

Traditional hands-on training led by an expert instructor at our training center. CPR certification is give on the day of class.

 

Blended Learning Classes

Hybrid option that combines hands-on classroom training with online learning. You finish the online class on your own time. Skills testing is done at our location.