HEARTSAVER FIRST AID CPR AED

HEARTSAVER FIRST AID CPR AED

The AHA’s Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED course trains participants to provide first aid, CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner. Reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE?

The AHA’s Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Course is designed for anyone with little or no medical training who needs a course completion card for their job, regulatory (e.g., OSHA), or other requirements, or anyone who wants to be prepared for an emergency in any setting. This course is NOT designed or intended for healthcare professionals.

WHAT DOES THIS COURSE TEACH?

  • First aid basics
  • Medical emergencies
  • Injury emergencies
  • Environmental emergencies
  • Preventing illness and injury
  • Adult CPR and AED use
  • Opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies
  • Optional modules in Child CPR AED and Infant CPR

CPR AED

  •  Describe how high-quality CPR improves survival 
  •  Explain the concept of the Chain of Survival 
  •  Recognize when someone needs CPR
  •  Describe how to perform CPR with help from others
  •  Demonstrate giving effective breaths by using mouth to mouth or a mask for all ages
  •  Demonstrate performing high-quality CPR for an adult, a child, and an infant*
  •  Demonstrate using an AED on an adult and on a child
  •  Describe when and how to help a choking adult or child
  •  Demonstrate how to help a choking infant

*Child and infant modules are optional. 

FIRST AID 

  • List the priorities, roles, and responsibilities of first aid rescuers
  • Describe the key steps in first aid
  • Demonstrate removing protective gloves
  • Demonstrate finding the problem
  • Describe the assessment and first aid actions for these life-threatening conditions: heart attack, difficulty breathing, choking, severe bleeding, shock, and stroke
  • Describe when and how to help a choking adult, child, or infant
  • Demonstrate how to help a choking infant
  • Demonstrate how to use an epinephrine pen
  • Demonstrate how to control bleeding and apply bandaging
  • Recognize elements of common illnesses and injuries
  • Describe the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and the risks of smoking and vaping
  • Describe how to find information on preventing illness and injury
  • Recognize the legal questions that apply to first aid rescuers 

NOTE: Course objectives vary based on the course topics taught. 

WHAT FORMAT IS THIS COURSE TAUGHT IN?

This course can be taken in either a blended learning, or traditional classroom format.

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online is a hybrid, blended learning course which involves a combination of eLearning followed by an in-person skills check with an American Heart Association BLS or Heartsaver Instructor. Students first complete a self-directed, online course. Students then schedule and meet with an American Heart Association BLS or Heartsaver Instructor to perform their hands-on skills performance evaluation. Students must successfully complete both the online and in-person requirements to receive their course completion eCard.

Instructor-Led Training (ILT) is an entirely in-person course whereby a student attends and receives their training in a traditional classroom setting. This course is conducted entirely in-person by an American Heart Association BLS or Heartsaver Instructor utilizing videos, skills demonstrations, lecture, and discussion. Students must successfully complete all course requirements, including the written exam (if required by employer or regulatory agency)* and skills performance to receive their course completion eCard.

* The written examination is optional and will only be administered if required by a student’s employer or regulatory agency. Students are solely responsible for determining if the written exam is an employer or regulatory agency requirement.

WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF THIS COURSE?

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online: 3h 45m - 5h 15m (eLearning 1h 15m - 3h) + (In-Person 2h 15m)*

Instructor-Led Training: 5h

* Course completion times may, and often do vary based on many factors such as course format, number of students, student:manikin ratio, individual learner abilities, remediation, and other parameters. Listed course lengths are approximations only.

WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR TAKING THIS COURSE?

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online: Students must successfully complete the Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online training prior to attending the in-person hands-on skills check. Students must bring the printed course completion certificate to their skills check.

Instructor-Led Training: There are no prerequisites or online course work required prior to attending the Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED course.

WHAT ARE THE COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS?

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online: Successful completion of the Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online course, followed by successful hands-on skills demonstration with an AHA BLS or Heartsaver Instructor. Skills demonstration includes glove removal, finding the problem, relief of choking, epinephrine auto-injector use, bleeding control, bandaging, adult, child, and infant chest compressions and ventilations, and AED use.

Instructor-Led Training: Successful skills demonstration including glove removal, finding the problem, relief of choking, epinephrine auto-injector use, bleeding control, bandaging, adult, child, and infant chest compressions and ventilations, and AED use. Students must also complete a written examination* and achieve a passing score of 84% or above.

* The written examination is optional and will only be administered if required by a student’s employer or regulatory agency. Students are solely responsible for determining if the written exam is an employer or regulatory agency requirement.

WHAT TYPE OF CERTIFICATE OR CARD WILL I RECEIVE?

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be issued an American Heart Association course completion eCard, which is valid for two years.

WHERE CAN I FIND OR REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING CLASS?

Visit our class registration page to view and register for any of our upcoming classes. 

Prefer to attend this class at your location? We offer on-site training for groups of six or more. Simply visit our training request page and complete the online questionnaire. Our friendly staff will contact you to review your request. 

Disclaimer: The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in BLS, ACLS, and PALS and has developed instructional materials for this purpose. Use of these materials in an educational course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association. Any fees charged for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed for AHA course materials, do not represent income to the Association.