CPR Learning Center

CPR / AED / First Aid Training
Presented by Ken & Cheryl Brown, Certified Trainers for
American Heart Association & Health & Safety Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

If you don't find an answer here please contact us.

General Questions

I am coughing and sneezing from a cold. Should I go to the course?
No. Contact your Instructor to re-schedule the training date, so that others in the course are not infected.
I have an injury or disability and can't perform all the skills. Can I be certified?
No. CPR/AED and First Aid certification requires that students pass a written exam and a skills exam. Students who cannot perform the skills are not issued certification cards. However, a person with a disability can perform many of the skills as well as guide another rescuer through the steps. Even though a person may not be able to complete the certification requirements, the training is still highly valuable.
What is the minimum age for CPR, First Aid, or AED certification?
The minimum recommended age for certification is 13 years old. However, if a student can understand the information and pass the written and skills testing, then he or she should be issued a certification card regardless of his or her age.

American Heart Association (AHA) FAQ's

Are workbooks required to take an American Heart Association course?
Yes if it is an Instructor-led course. No if it is a Blended Leaning course.
What are the Heartsaver classroom courses?
The American Heart Association's core Heartsaver classroom courses, for those with little or no medical training, include Heartsaver First Aid, Heartsaver CPR AED and Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED. These videobased, Instructor-led courses teach participants critical skills needed to respond to and manage an emergency in the first few minutes until emergency medical services (EMS) takes over. Depending on the course, participants learn how to recognize, respond to and treat a variety of first aid emergencies, and perform CPR and use an AED in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.
Specifically, what content is taught in the Heartsaver classroom courses?
All courses include key changes reflecting science from the 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC. Each course also offers an optional written test for students whose employers require completion of a test. Specific content covered in each course is listed below:

Heartsaver CPR AED

  • Adult CPR AED (with a mask)
  • Adult choking
  • Optional modules include child CPR AED, and infant CPR, including child and infant choking

Heartsaver First Aid

  • First aid basics (including scene safety, finding the problem, calling for help and more)
  • Medical emergencies (including actions for choking, breathing problems, shock and more)
  • Injury emergencies (including actions for bleeding, broken bones, burns and more)
  • Environmental emergencies (including actions for bites and stings, and temperature-related and poison emergencies)

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED

  • First aid basics (including scene safety, finding the problem, calling for help and more)
  • Medical emergencies (including actions for choking, breathing problems, shock and more)
  • Injury emergencies (including actions for bleeding, broken bones, burns and more)
  • Environmental emergencies (including actions for bites and stings, and temperature-related and poison emergencies)
  • Adult CPR AED (with a mask)
  • Optional modules include child CPR AED, and infant CPR, including child and infant choking
Who is the target audience for the Heartsaver classroom products and courses?
These courses are for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in first aid and/or CPR AED to meet job, regulatory or other requirements.
What is the format for the Heartsaver classroom courses?
Heartsaver courses teach skills using the AHA's research-proven Practice-While-Watching technique, which allows Instructors to observe students, provide feedback and guide students' acquisition of skills. These courses include skills practice and testing to ensure students demonstrate competency performing skills and have mastered knowledge of cognitive information.
Which skills are students tested on the Heartsaver classroom courses?
Skills tested for each course are listed below:

Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED

  • Taking off gloves
  • Finding the problem
  • Epinephrine pen use
  • Stopping bleeding
  • Adult CPR AED
  • Child CPR AED (when taught)
  • Infant CPR (when taught)

Heartsaver CPR AED

  • Adult CPR AED
  • Child CPR AED (when taught)
  • Infant CPR (when taught)

Heartsaver First Aid

  • Taking off gloves
  • Finding the problem
  • Epinephrine pen use
  • Stopping bleeding
Is there a written test that must be completed for Heartsaver courses?
While the AHA does not mandate completion of a written test for Heartsaver courses, an optional written test is available for Instructors to administer to students whose employers require completion of a written test.
Approximately how long do the Heartsaver classroom courses take to complete?

The following are the approximate completion times for each Instructor-led course. Times are based on a recommended ratio of 6 students to 2 manikins to 1 Instructor. Using a different ratio of students to manikins to Instructors will result in increased course completion times.

  • Heartsaver First Aid: approximately 2 – 3 hours
  • Heartsaver CPR AED: approximately 3 – 4 hours
  • Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED: approximately 5 – 7 hours
Does successful completion of the Heartsaver classroom courses result in receipt of an AHA course completion card? If so, what card?

Yes, students who successfully complete the requirements of these courses will receive an AHA course completion card, valid two years. The table below indicates the card received for each course:

Course Card Received
Heartsaver First Aid - Heartsaver First Aid Course Completion Card
Heartsaver CPR AED - Heartsaver CPR AED Course Completion Card
Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED - Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Course Completion Card

Are continuing education (CE/CME) credits offered for the Heartsaver classroom-based courses?
No, CE/CME credits are not offered for these classroom courses. Course Materials
Am I covered by the Good Samaritan Law?
The Good Samaritan Law is different in every state. Most Good Samaritan Laws protect rescuers from civil liability as long as rescuers are responding voluntarily, stay within the scope of their training, do not cause harm to the victim, and stay with the victim until additional help arrives. Generally, trained rescuers are covered by the Good Samaritan Law as long as they meet the parameters above. Contact your local Emergency Medical Services Agency for more information about the Good Samaritan Law in your state.

CPR Learning Center: PO BOX 496 YELM, WA 98597
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