BLS (Basic Life Support) replaces the Health Care Provider Course
The AHA’s new BLS Course has been updated to include science and education from the 2015 Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC. It teaches both single-rescuer and team basic life support skills for application in both prehospital and in-facility environments, with a focus on high-quality CPR and team dynamics. In the Instructor-led course, students participate in simulated clinical scenarios and learning stations. Students work with an AHA BLS Instructor to complete BLS skills practice and skills testing. Students also complete a written exam.
Intended Audience: The BLS for Health Care provider course is designed for medical care providers, such as emergency physicians, family physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics and EMS responders, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare providers.
Heartsaver CPR and AED*
The Heartsaver CPR course provides instruction in one- and two-rescuer CPR for adults, children and infants. This program also instructs in the use of barrier devices and management of foreign body airway obstruction and also includes AED use.
Intended audience: The Heartsaver CPR course is designed for those individuals who have duty to respond to a cardiac emergency due to work or regulatory requirements and where a provider card is necessary.
Heartsaver First Aid*
The Heartsaver First Aid Course provides instruction on how to manage illness and injuries in an adult or child during the first moments of an incident while awaiting the arrival of professional rescuers. Course content includes general patient management principles, medical emergencies, and injury emergencies. Optional topics include CPR and AED, as well as environmental emergencies.
Intended Audience: The Heartsaver First Aid course is designed for those individuals who have duty to respond to an emergency due to work or regulatory requirements and where a provider card is necessary.
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid
The Heartsaver First Aid Course provides instruction on how to manage illness and injuries in a child or infant during the first moments of an incident while awaiting the arrival of professional rescuers. Course content includes general patient management principles, medical emergencies, and injury emergencies. Optional topics include CPR and AED, as well as environmental emergencies.
Intended Audience: The Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid course is designed for those individuals who have duty to respond to an emergency due to work or regulatory requirements child care workers, teachers, foster care workers, camp counselors, youth organizations and coaches, and where a provider card is necessary.
Heartsaver CPR in Schools
The Heartsaver CPR in Schools program is tailored to middle and high school students and provides instruction on CPR and AED use, as well as relief of choking in adults, children and infants.
Intended Audience: The Heartsaver CPR in Schools program is designed for middle and high school students seeking a credential in CPR and AED.
Family and Friends CPR
The Family and Friends CPR course provides instruction in one and two rescuer CPR as well as management of foreign body airway obstruction for adults, children or infants.
Intended Audience: The Family and Friends CPR program is designed for the general community members who have a desire to learn CPR but do not need a course completion card.
This program can also be used as a non-credentialed alternative for middle and high school students.
Family and Friends First Aid for Children
The new Family and Friends First Aid for Children program provides instruction on how to manage illness and injuries in a child or infant during the first moments of an incident while awaiting the arrival of professional rescuers. Course content includes topics such as injury prevention, recognition and treating basic first aid emergencies and relief of choking in infants and children.
Intended Audience: The Family and Friends First Aid for Children program is designed for those caring for infants and children such as family members, babysitters, and others providing in-home care who want basic first aid information but do not need a course completion card.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
The ACLS Provider Course is based on simulated clinical scenarios that encourage active, hands-on participation through learning stations where students will practice essential skills individually, as part of a team, and as team leader. Realistic simulations reinforce the following key concepts:
- Proficiency in basic life support care
- Recognizing and initiating early management of peri-arrest conditions
- Managing cardiac arrest
- Identification and treatment of ischemic chest pain and acute coronary syndromes
- Recognizing other life-threatening clinical situations (such as stroke) and initiating care
- ACLS treatment algorithms
- Effective resuscitation team dynamics
Intended Audience: The ACLS Provider course is designed for medical providers such as emergency physicians, family physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare providers who may respond to a cardiovascular emergency.
Bloodborne Pathogens*
The Heartsaver Bloodborne Pathogens Course is designed to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for bloodborne pathogens training when paired with site-specific instruction.
Intended Audience: Classes are designed for workplace personnel in settings such as, Industry and manufacturing, Fortune 1500 companies, Occupational health, Property management, Hospitality, Health and fitness staff, Childcare workers, School personnel, Maintenance workers, Tattoo artists, Security, State corrections facilities.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
The goal of the of Pediatric Advanced Life Support course is to aid the pediatric healthcare provider in developing the knowledge and skills necessary to efficiently and effectively manage critically ill infants and children, resulting in improved outcomes. Skills taught include recognition and treatment of infants and children at risk for cardiopulmonary arrest, the systematic approach to pediatric assessment, effective respiratory management, defibrillation and synchronized cardioversion, intraosseous access and fluid bolus administration, and effective resuscitation team dynamics.
Intended Audience: The PALS course is designed for pediatricians, emergency physicians, family physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare providers who initiate and direct advanced life support in pediatric emergencies.
The American Heart Association strongly promotes knowledge and proficiency in BLS, ACLS and PALS and has developed instructional material for this purpose. Use of these materials in an education course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association and any fees charged for such course does not represent income to the American Heart Association.
* These courses are available online through the AHA. To register, click here. Once you have taken the AHA eLearning Course, please contact American Medical Response WNY for your skills assessment.
The American Heart Association strongly promotes knolwedge and proficiency in BLS, ACLS, and PALS and has developed instructional material for this purpose. Use of these materials in an education course does not represent course sponsorship by the American Heart Association and any fees charged for such course does not represent income to the American Heart Association.