AHA HeartCode BLS

Course Overview

Title: American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers – Online Course

Format: Blended eLearning

Description

This 2-hour online course includes a 1-hour skills session. Upon purchase, access to online content is provided via email. The course has been updated to incorporate the latest science from the American Heart Association’s 2020 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

Course Content
Through five interactive exercises, scenarios, and a written test, students will master single-rescuer and team-based life support skills for adults, children, and infants. Key skills covered include:

• Recognizing life-threatening emergencies
• Performing high-quality chest compressions
• Delivering appropriate ventilation
• Using an AED early
• Relieving choking

Course Structure

• Part 1: Online Course – Covers the theory of BLS and prepares students for practical sessions.
• Part 2: Skills Practice – Hands-on practice of BLS techniques.
• Part 3: Skills Test – Evaluates competency in practical skills.

Students who complete Part 1 receive a certificate that grants access to the in-person skills practice and test. Successful completion of all parts earns an AHA BLS Provider Card.

HeartCode® BLS

HeartCode BLS, the AHA’s blended learning approach, allows students flexibility in pacing. Students complete the online portion and follow a personalized learning path guided by an adaptive algorithm, then move to hands-on practice with an AHA Instructor or simulation station. This course version reflects the 2020 Guidelines, featuring:

• Self-directed content and probing questions
• Cognitive Assessment Activities (CAAs)
• Access to the BLS Provider Manual eBook

Course Coverage

Key Topics

• 2020 AHA Guidelines Updates: Changes in basic life support.
• Survival Chain: Understanding the BLS Chain of Survival.
• CPR Techniques: 1-rescuer and 2-rescuer CPR for adults, children, and infants.
• Device Use: AED and bag-mask techniques.
• Special Techniques: Rescue breathing and choking relief for various age groups.

This course is ideal for healthcare providers renewing their BLS certification.

Technical Requirements

• Web Browsers: Latest Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari
• Operating Systems: Windows 8+ (4GB+ RAM), macOS 10.13+ (4GB+ RAM), Android 8+ (2GB+ RAM), iOS 11+ (2GB+ RAM)
• Internet: Broadband (Fiber, Wireless, DSL, Cable)
• Screen Size: 4 inches minimum (recommended)

Continuing Education Information

Credits Available

• AMA Credit for Physicians: Up to 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
• AAPA Credit: Accepted by the American Academy of Physician Assistants
• AANP Credit: Accepted by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• ANCC Credit for Nurses: 1.0 Contact Hour
• ACPE Credit for Pharmacists: 0.75 Contact Hours
• EMS (CAPCE) Credit: 0.75 Advanced CEHs

Accreditation Period: 10/21/2020 – 10/20/2023

Disclosure Policy: All educational content developers disclose any relevant financial relationships and any discussion of unapproved drug/device uses.

Intended Audience

This course is designed for healthcare professionals and personnel needing CPR and basic cardiovascular life support training in various in-hospital and pre-hospital settings.

HeartSaver and AED

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED is a classroom, video-based, instructor-led course that teaches students critical skills needed to respond to and manage a first aid, choking or sudden cardiac arrest emergency in the first few minutes until emergency medical services (EMS) arrives. Students learn skills such as how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, shock and other first aid emergencies.  This course also teaches adult CPR and AED use.

Audience

This course is for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in first aid, CPR and AED use to meet job, regulatory or other requirements.

Course Content

• Key changes reflecting the new science from the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
• First aid basics
• Medical emergencies
• Injury emergencies
• Environmental emergencies
• Adult CPR and AED use
• Optional modules in child CPR and AED use and infant CPR
• Optional written test

Course Format

Classroom-based (instructor and video, with skills conducted throughout)

Features

• Video-based course ensures consistency
• Instructor-led, hands-on class format reinforces skills proficiency
• Student manual comes with a new Heartsaver First Aid Quick Reference Guide that summarizes first aid actions for many injuries and illnesses
• Course is updated with the new science

Certification

Upon completion of this course, students receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Course Completion Card that is valid for two years.

During the course, an AHA Instructor conducts video-based lessons and works with students to complete their first aid, CPR and AED skills practice and testing.

AHA Instructor Courses

So you want to become an AHA Instructor?

Intense training by experienced instructors certified by the American Heart Association as Training Center Faculty and Regional Faculty . All Instructors are currently involved in an EMS agency and have over 50 years of combined experience. The AHA Instructor Course teaches the methods needed to effectively instruct others in resuscitation courses. The AHA requires that Instructor be at least 16 years of age for the Heartsaver and BLS Instructor courses. ACLS and PALS Instructors must be at least 18 years of age and licensed or certified in a healthcare occupation where such skills are within the scope of practice.

Who Should Attend?

The Ideal instructor candidate is motivated to; teach, facilitate learning and ensure students acquire the skills necessary for successful course completion. The ideal instructor candidate views student assessment as a way to improve individual knowledge and skills.

Prerequisites

All Prospective participants in an instructor Course must:

• Have current Provider status in the discipline they wish to teach
• Have completed an Instructor Candidate Application
• Have the most recent edition of the AHA Provider Manual for the discipline they wish to teach
• Complete the discipline specific Instructor Essentials Online Course

The following are the steps to become an AHA Instructor:

• Complete the classroom discipline specific Instructor Course
• Be successfully monitored teaching a course by Training Center Faculty / Regional Faculty

PALS

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is a classroom, video-based, Instructor-led course that uses a series of simulated pediatric emergencies to reinforce the important concepts of a systematic approach to pediatric assessment, basic life support, PALS treatment algorithms, effective resuscitation and team dynamics. The goal of the PALS Course is to improve the quality of care provided to seriously ill or injured children, resulting in improved outcomes.

Audience

The PALS Course is for healthcare providers who respond to emergencies in infants and children. These include personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units such as physicians, nurses, paramedics and others who need a PALS course completion card for job or other requirements.

Course Content

• 1- and 2-rescuer child CPR and AED use
• 1- and 2-rescuer infant CPR
• Cardiac, respiratory and shock case discussions and simulations
• Key changes in pediatric advanced life support, reflecting the new science from the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
• Management of respiratory emergencies
• Resuscitation team concept
• Rhythm disturbances and electrical therapy
• Systematic Approach to Pediatric Assessment
• Vascular access

Class Format

• Full course:  14 hours 10 minutes, plus additional time for breaks and lunch.
• Update course, with all optional stations: 8 hours 20 minutes, plus additional time for breaks and lunch.
• Update without optional stations: 6 hours 20 minutes, plus additional time for breaks and lunch.

Features

• Classroom-based works well for learners who prefer group interaction and instructor feedback while learning skills’
• Co-branded with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• Course uses learning stations for practice of essential skills simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active participation
• Hands-on class format reinforces skills proficiency

Certification

Students who successfully complete the PALS Course, including the following components, will receive a PALS Provider
course Completion Card, valid for two years:

• Actively participate in, practice and complete all learning stations
• Complete the closed-book written exam with a minimum score of 84%
• Pass the 1- and 2-Rescuer Child BLS With AED and 1- and 2-Rescuer Infant BLS Skills Tests
• Pass 2 PALS core case scenarios (1 cardiac and 1 respiratory or shock) as a team leader, providing appropriate medical treatment and demonstrating effective team dynamics

ACLS

ACLS is an advanced, instructor-led classroom course that highlights the importance of team dynamics and communication, systems of care and immediate post-cardiac-arrest care. It also covers airway management and related pharmacology. In this course, skills are taught in large, group sessions and small, group learning and testing stations where case-based scenarios are presented.

Audience

ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals who either direct or participate in the management of cardiopulmonary arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies. This includes personnel in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and critical care units.

Course Content

• Key changes in advanced cardiovascular life support, reflecting the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
• Basic life support skills, including effective chest compressions,use of a bag-mask device and use of an (AED)
• Recognition and early management of respiratory and cardiac arrest
• Recognition and early management of peri-arrest conditions such as symptomatic bradycardia
• Airway management
• Related pharmacology
• Management of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and stroke
• Effective communication as a member and leader of a
• resuscitation team
• Effective Resuscitation Team Dynamics

Course Format/Time

Initial Provider Course requires approximately 10-12 hours to complete, including skills practice and skills testing. Renewal Course requires approximately 5-6 hours, including skills practice and skills testing.
*course time based on 1 instructor: 6 student: 2 manikins

Classroom-based (instructor and video, with skills conducted throughout)

Features

• Course uses learning stations for practice of essential skills
• simulated clinical scenarios that encourage Active participation
• Hands-on class format reinforces skills proficiency
• Classroom-based works well for learners who prefer group interaction and instructor feedback while learning skills

Course Completion Card

Upon successful course completion, including demonstration of skills competency in all learning stations and passing the CPR and AED skills test, bag-mask ventilation skills test, a Megacode test and a written test, students receive an ACLS course completion card, valid for two years.

Notes: BLS training requires participants to have a medical background and is only available for group registration. ACLS training requires a valid BLS certification as a prerequisite and also only accepts group registrations. This policy ensures that participants have the necessary foundational knowledge and skills to better master emergency response techniques and improve teamwork in critical situations.