Full day CPR course--what to expect

[JeanettePNP]

I signed up for a full day course in First Aid/CPR offered by Red Cross. If anyone has taken a similar course, can you tell me what to expect? What will I learn in the course? What will I be qualified to do when I'm finished? The letter I got after signing up for the class warned that the class is "physically demanding"--how physically demanding? It also advises women not to wear skirts. I never wear pants and don't plan to start for this class. I will wear a skirt that's comfortable that I don't mind if it gets dirty. Can anyone explain why skirts should not be worn?

[Batman24]

One school I applied to only accepts AHA. Struck me as odd as so many places teach it and teach it well. They made a big deal in the original packet to specify AHA over and over again. I wonder if they get a cut. lol

[Batman24]

I haven't taken it yet as I was advised to wait until I get accepted as there is such a wait to get into the school. I have heard it wasn't bad at all.

[casualjim]

I teach both Red Cross and AHA and the only real difference is that Red cross does back blows and abdominal thrusts for concious choking victims and AHA just does Abd thrusts. The real big difference is that AHA has a "recommended renewal date" of 2 years. Red Cross is a 1 year cert. About every school I know of here (socal) will take Red Cross as long as you take the CPR for the Professional class with AED. As I said it's the same as AHA's

good luck

ps

go with the sweats suggestion and skip the low cut top that day. function over fashion is the rule for CPR classes.

It's not all that demanding but you will have to roll a classmate onto his or her back from a prone position, and sooner or later you'll be doing a bunch of chest compressions. No biggie.

[masstudent]

I just took the AHA class on Sunday at my local hospital for healthcare providers and it was easy. Granted I have been certified in the past in CPR and just certified in the Fall at work in community CPR. My class was about 4 hours and covered adult, child, and infant CPR; choking/Heimlech Maneuver; and AED (the AHA website says the class should last ~4.5 hours). The class doesn't cover first aid. I think it would have been harder if it hadn't all been a review for me. For example, people are now certified in using the AED but we never actually used it, we had 2 but neither worked, so we just watched it on the tape. Luckily, I learned how to use it when I took an EMT class. We didn't have to straddle the manniquin but we had the "little Annies" that were just the torso and no legs to contend with, so when we did the two person child CPR you basically had the mannequin in front of you-on a real person you would be straddling them.

The class cost $75 and the cost depends upon the person/organization teaching it. Sometimes they are cheaper if the person teaching the class teaches it for free.

I took it in order to apply to a certain nursing school. Most of the programs I have looked at just require you to take the class before school starts, but one program I am applying to requires you to submit your healthcare provider CPR card with your application. According to the person who taught my class, the AHA has put out a video for the instructors to follow while teaching the class in order to try and standardize the class across the country, so that what you learn in VT is the same in CA.

Something I learned in this class is that the compressions to breathes for adults is now 30:2 and I believe it used to be 15:2, darn now I need to learn to count higher :). Supposedly research has shown it is more important for adult victims to have more compressions than breathes, but for kids the breathes are more important since most kids who stop breathing and having blood circulation have a breathing issue, than a heart issue.

[masstudent]

strange how a standardized class is still so different. we didn't have to roll a classmate onto their back from a prone position.

the aha i thought got rid of abdominal thrusts when a person is unconscious (i don't believe you ever did them on a person when they were conscious). i was told now according to the aha has you go directly to mouth to mouth when a person becomes unconcious from choking and has added before each breath, you need to check the person's mouth to see if the foreign object has come up for you to remove. however i just checked out their website (see below for the link) and it still lists abdominal thrusts. i guess i better see if i took an aha class or red cross class. i swore it was aha that was being taught at my local hospital that was labeled for the healthcare professional/provider. is the book blue for the aha class for healthcare providers and only covers cpr, aed, and choking?

the professional course no longer includes information on heart attack prevention or any prevention.

for a look at what changes have been implemented take a look at the aha's link to their winter 2006-2007 ecc currents quarterly issue

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3043844

[casualjim]

Easy way to tell what you took is if the book says "healthcare provider" it's AHA. If it says "Professional Rescuer" it's Red Cross.

Chest thrust's for unconcious choking now, no prone abd thrusts

[masstudent]

Easy way to tell what you took is if the book says "healthcare provider" it's AHA. If it says "Professional Rescuer" it's Red Cross.

Chest thrust's for unconcious choking now, no prone abd thrusts

Thanks, I just checked and it was indeed the AHA class.

[altus bulldog]

We recommend no slacks for the BLS class participants because you end up moving from head to chest frequently when doing two-person checkoffs. Also, because you are on the floor, skirts can get twisted and tangled up in the legs, and supplied knee pad protectors. You are also having to reach around to grab the bag and appropriate sized mask, plus reach for the AED. The AED is a mandated performance exercise. Don't forget to turn it on when you grab it. You won't pass if you forget! The CPR for Healthcare providers is a timed competency performance. How many compression : breath cycles can you complete in a two minute period of time? There is a magic number! Certification is good for two years with the AHA. Almost all hospitals and Nursing schools recognize the AHA certification. The recommended cost for the course is $45.00. It is free (usually) if you are employed in a hospital or healthcare facility. Good Luck, Be prepared to MOVE around with the new guidelines. And yes, there is a new video out. You still need to make sure "all clear" is called. I, for one, would not want to share the number of joules given in a shock, just because I was leaning against the bed!

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

This is a class I hate with a passion. I only take the renewal class but it is 4 hours of sleeping upright for me.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm stuck with the Red Cross class since I already booked and paid for it. If I have to repeat the class in a year or two when I'm ready to apply to nursing school, so be it. At least I won't be a complete stranger to CPR at that point. In real life I will be wearing skirts anyway so I will just have to learn how to do compressions while wearing a skirt.

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

When are you taking your class ChayaN?

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

February 21