"As healthcare professionals we are all committed to the “chain of survival”. The concept was first introduced in the American Heart Association’s Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care published in 1992.  The chain of survival is a metaphor that illustrates a series of related interventions that will improve the outcomes of victims of cardiac and respiratory emergencies.  Each link in the chain identifies an early intervention: early access (call 9-1-1), early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced life support.  Each early intervention requires the training of persons ranging from the lay rescuer, to the first responder, to EMTs, to the emergency room physician.  This training is delivered through the American Heart Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) training network." - American Heart Association

American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Provider certification is available through one of several members that are certified to lead the training. Contact our Training Officer if you are in need certification or renewal.

Certification Options

• Certification: No prerequisites. Required for new certifications, or if certification has expired more than two months prior. Course manuals are available for review prior to the course. Course Length: 3.5 - 5.5hrs, depending on class size.
• Recertification: Must have current card, or previous AHA card expired within last two months. Course Length: 1.5 - 2.5hrs, depending on class size.
• Challenge: Must have current AHA card. Must pass written test. Must pass practical skills test WITHOUT ERROR. (Remediation is not permitted. If you fail the practical skills portion, you must take the full course.)
• Offsite: Use the American Heart Association web site find other CPR courses being offered in our area. 

Preparing for a CPR course held at TCAA

• Bring a CPR pocket mask to the course. (If you need assistance in obtaining a pocket mask, contact the instructor 5 business days prior to the course.)
• Bring your most current AHA CPR Card, if you were previously certified. We need a copy of your card.
   
• Review the document: "AHA-Winter2005.pdf" (link below)
  • Start on page 11, read through page 17. (Up to the ACLS protocols)
  • Focus particularly on who (age) / what / when. The order of the tasks performed changes based on circumstance and age.
  • Review the info in the chart on page 15. Much of the exam based on this information.
     
• Review the document: "cprcriticalskillschecklist.pdf". (link below)
  • This is the document used to evaluate your skills. (It's provided in the textbook, and provided a great step-by-step flow of the skills on which you'll be tested.)
• We'll be practicing along with the video, so the material will be fresh in your mind. Avoid napping through the video, they provide all the answers to the exam, but they only spend a few seconds on some of them.
• The exam will not be open book, nor will it be collaborative!!! (You cheat, you fail.)
   
• We will cover all the material that is on the exam, and we'll review prior to the exam.