CPR Certification: Choosing the Right Class for You

by | Nov 18, 2015 | Health

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Let’s consider for a moment that your employer has just informed you that you need a CPR certification as a new requirement for your position. This requirement is fairly recent; so you haven’t been expected to have one in the past and don’t really know where to turn to secure one now. Where do you look? Who do you turn to? There are a number of organizations that provide CPR certifications in Los Angeles– two of the best, perhaps, are the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Both organizations are very well recognized and established in the community, but both offer a number of different courses that cater to different populations. How do you know which course is right for you? Here is a quick and easy way to distinguish between the two.

Basis CPR

If you are not a healthcare professional, then chances are you only need a basic CPR certification to meet the requirements of your position. Both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross offer basic CPR classes that are suitable for the general population. These classes are meant to teach the very basics of life saving and life support using an AED device. Depending on the population you work with directly, you may need to determine whether you need child CPR, specifically, or if you can attain certification through a basic adult CPR course. The American Heart Association refers to this class as “Heartsaver CPR/AED”, while the American Red Cross breaks their classes up by population – infant, child or adult. Though the titles and prices for these courses vary depending on the organization and location of the course, they provide the same information and overall knowledge needed for certification.

Advanced CPR

If you work in a healthcare setting, or have been specifically directed to attain an advanced level certification, you will need to access an advanced level CPR certification Los Angeles. The American Heart Association refers to their advanced level course as “Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers”, while the American Red Cross refers to this course as “CPR for the Professional Rescuer”. Unlike basic CPR, both of these courses divulge into much deeper detail and are much more intensive in nature. Again, it is recommended that you check with your employer to verify acceptance of each organizational provider and to double check if there is any specific criteria in regards to population that you will need, per your employer’s requirements. Get more information.