Frequently Asked Questions
AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
What Is Basic Life Support (BLS)?
According to the American Heart Association, the AHA’s BLS course trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high-quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an AED
Who Should Take A Basic Life Support (BLS) Course?
Per the American Heart Association, the AHA’s BLS Course is designed for healthcare professionals and other personnel who need to know how to perform CPR and other basic cardiovascular life support skills in a wide variety of in-facility and prehospital settings
When you have successfully completed the course, students receive a course completion card, valid for two years. Please contact your employer to make sure that you are selecting the correct course
What Does Basic Life Support (BLS) Teach?
According to the American Heart Association, high-quality CPR for adults, children, and infants includes:
The AHA Chain of Survival, specifically the BLS components
Important early use of an AED
Effective ventilations using a barrier device
Importance of teams in multirescuer resuscitation and performance as an effective team member during multirescuer CPR
Relief of foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) for adults and infants
Can I Take The Basic Life Support (BLS) Course At Home?
Yes, you can complete the online portion at home! The online course is sold separately: HeartCode® BLS | AHA
Step 1: Learn from home at your own pace by first completing the Blended Learning HeartCode® BLS which teaches you the cognitive portion (part 1) of Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, instead of taking an in-person class
Step 2: After successfully completing the eLearning course (part 1), you’ll receive a certificate that you’ll email to contact@heartresponders.com. You MUST email it to the instructor before you attend the hands-on skills session per the AHA’s requirements. If you do not email your certificate of completion, you will not be able to complete the skills practice and testing of the course. If there’s any issues with obtaining the certificate, please send us an email
Step 3: Lastly, students must complete a hands-on skills session (which is sold separately) in-person with an AHA BLS instructor
What Is A Hands-On Skills Session?
In order to receive and obtain a 2-year American Heart Association course completion card, students MUST demonstrate to an AHA instructor in-person the correct and appropriate CPR skills on a CPR manikin that gives feedback. Skills sessions can be one-on-one or in a group setting
Hands-On Skills Sessions (In-Person) are held:
During an in-person class
After completion of HeartCode® BLS at your own pace at home
How Long Is The In-Person Basic Life Support (BLS) Course?
3.5 hour instructor-led class
Class times are based on American Heart Association guidelines but classes can be shorter or longer in length all dependent on the number of students and the learning needs of the class
How Long Is A Hands-On Skills Session for BLS?
According to the American Heart Association, the hands-on skills session can be completed anywhere from 60 minutes to 2 hours, dependent on the experience of the students
AHA Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Training
What Is Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED?
According to the American Heart Association, this course covers child, infant, and adult (optional) CPR, choking and first-aid topics such as:
Asthma
Bleeding and bandages
Drowning
Allergic reactions
Broken bones and sprains
Seizures
And more!
Per the American Heart Association, this course offers the flexibility of two different course paths:
Heartsaver – Shorter Heartsaver course path offers the flexibility to add optional topics. Add on optional topics when required topics are completed
Heartsaver Total – Comprehensive course designed for those requiring training to meet OSHA or other regulatory agency requirements
Who Should Take A Heartsaver Pediatric First-Aid CPR AED Course?
According to the American Heart Association, AHA’s Heartsaver Pediatric course is designed for anyone with little or no medical training who needs first aid and/or CPR training and a course completion card for job, regulatory (e.g., OSHA), or other requirements. Heartsaver courses can also be taken by anyone who wants to be prepared to act in an emergency
Can I Take The Heartsaver Pediatric First-Aid CPR AED Course At Home?
The online course is sold separately:
Step 1: Learn from home at your own pace by first completing the Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online (part 1)
Step 2: After successful completion of the eLearning course (part 1), you’ll receive a certificate that you’ll email to contact@heartresponders.com. You MUST email it to the instructor before you attend the hands-on skills session per the AHA’s requirements. If you do not email your certificate of completion, you will not be able to complete the skills practice
Step 3: Lastly, students must complete a hands-on skills session (that you must purchase separately) in-person with an AHA Heartsaver instructor
How Long Is The In-Person Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Course?
3.5 hour instructor-led class
Class times are based on American Heart Association guidelines but classes may be shorter or longer in length dependent on the number of students and the learning needs of the class
How Long Is A Hands-On Skills Session for the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Course?
According to the American Heart Association, the hands-on skills session can be completed in 2 ¼ hours, dependent the experience of the student and based on included optional topics
AHA Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED
What Is Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED?
Per the American Heart Association, 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 as well as first-aid topics such as:
Opioid-involved emergencies that are life-threatening
Environmental-related emergencies and injuries
Medical-related emergencies and injuries
And more!
Who Should Take A Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Course?
According to the American Heart Association, AHA’s Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED is designed for anyone with little or no medical training who needs first aid and/or CPR training and a course completion card for job, regulatory (e.g., OSHA), or other requirements. Heartsaver courses can also be taken by anyone who wants to be prepared to act in an emergency
Can I Take The Heartsaver First-Aid CPR AED Course At Home?
The online course is sold separately:
Step 1: Learn from home at your own pace by first completing the Heartsaver® Total - Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online (part 1) or Heartsaver® Basic - Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Online
Step 2: After successful completion of the eLearning course (part 1), you’ll receive a certificate that you’ll email to contact@heartresponders.com. You MUST email it to the instructor before you attend the hands-on skills session per the AHA’s requirements. If you do not email your certificate of completion, you will not be able to complete the skills practice. If there’s any issues with obtaining the certificate, please send us an email
Step 3: Lastly, students must complete a hands-on skills session (that you must purchase separately) in-person with an AHA Heartsaver instructor
How Long Is The In-Person Heartsaver® Total or Heartsaver® Basic First Aid CPR AED Online Course?
2 ¼ hour instructor-led class
Class times are based on American Heart Association guidelines but classes may be shorter or longer in length dependent on the number of students and the learning needs of the class
How Long Is A Hands-On Skills Session for the Heartsaver® Total or Heartsaver® Basic First Aid CPR AED Course?
According to the American Heart Association, the hands-on skills session can be completed in 2 ¼ hours, dependent on the experience of the student and based on included optional topics