CPR and first aid courses

CPR and first aid are two lifesaving skills that go hand in hand in training programs. We have six locations all over the country, in  the following cities: Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle.  All of our locations offer the same set of basic and advanced training courses, available at the same rates.

Enrollment to CPR and first aid training is available on the location websites; the form can be filled out at any time of the day. E-mails can also be sent at any time of the day. If you plan on enrolling in person or giving us a call, you can do so during regular operating hours.

What leads to a heart attack?

first aid kits
Barrier devices such as gloves are integral parts of infection control and management when giving CPR and first aid.

There are many factors that contribute to a heart attack, varying according to the lifestyle and genetic predisposition a person may have. However, there is one identifying step in the cascade that leads to a heart attack – too much stress on the heart causes it to stop beating. Stress can be caused by hypertension, vascular obstruction, and vasospasms, among a list of the most common causes.

Atrial fibrillation

One of the causes of a heart attack and subsequent cardiac arrest is arrhythmia. Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms, which can be caused by an electrolyte imbalance, rise in hypertension, or an anatomical anomaly of the heart. This condition  affects between 1 and 2 percent of the American population, usually a chronic condition that needs medical management (medication or otherwise). There is a prevalent pattern where as age increases, the incidence of AFib increases.

In AFib, the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat irregularly, making the flow of blood from the atrium and ventricle uncoordinated. Like other heart conditions, atrial fibrillation can manifest as palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, and heart failure. At the end stages of AFib when the symptoms are severe enough, a person can get a heart attack.

CPR 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is made up of compressions, ventilation, and defibrillation. When the heart stops beating, manually compressing the heart can help restart it while sending blood circulating through the body. Ventilations are given using a bag valve mask or mouth-to-mouth, a technique that oxygenates the blood. The last skill, defibrillation, can only be done if an AED as available, and can help return the normal rhythm of the heart.

Training courses in CPR and first aid

  1. Basic Heartsaver training- one-rescuer CPR training for the public, 4 hrs.
  2. Basic Heartsaver C training – one-rescuer CPR training for HCPs, 4.5 hrs.
  3. Basic Life Support for HCPs – one and two-rescuer CPR training for HCPs, 4.5 hrs.
  4. Advanced Cardiac Life Support – advanced medical management of adult victims for health care professionals, 16 hrs.
  5. Pediatric Advanced Life Support – advanced medical management of pediatric victims for health care professionals, 14 hrs.

Certification is only valid for two years and can be renewed through a certification class.

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