CPR/AED in Progress...

[Stonewall]

And where have you been, Steven?

[mynetdude]

Since we're talking about CPR/AEDs I have two new "branch" questions to ask that could be a new topic but I dunno... I'll let you all figure that one out.

Question 1: I have heard/read bits and pieces in the past that certain places are required to have AEDs in the workplace or schools, etc does this apply to CAP? As in, are squadrons supposed to have one should a member need CPR?

Question 2: I need to recertify my CPR it has not expired yet (although I can't find my card, I found it 2 months ago, it disappeared again). The red cross chapter supposedly offers Professional CPR/First Aid for BLS/Health Care folks and I know we CAP are not EMTs nor healthcare but we do SAR and if we happen to find someone who needs First Aid/CPR we ought to know how to do it the pro way?  ANYWAY the boiling point of my question is I saw that I can take CPR/First Aid courses online vs taking the class in person (not that much of a savings but I would rather take one class for everything I need to know to get one certification rather than 3-4 certs).

Does CAP have specific agencies they will/will not recognize CPR/First Aid training from? (other than ARC)

[SJFedor]

And where have you been, Steven?

Working 50-60 hour weeks here in Louisville with EMS, moving into a new place, stuff like that.

Plus a new girlfriend. 

[SJFedor]

Since we're talking about CPR/AEDs I have two new "branch" questions to ask that could be a new topic but I dunno... I'll let you all figure that one out.

Question 1: I have heard/read bits and pieces in the past that certain places are required to have AEDs in the workplace or schools, etc does this apply to CAP? As in, are squadrons supposed to have one should a member need CPR?

Question 2: I need to recertify my CPR it has not expired yet (although I can't find my card, I found it 2 months ago, it disappeared again). The red cross chapter supposedly offers Professional CPR/First Aid for BLS/Health Care folks and I know we CAP are not EMTs nor healthcare but we do SAR and if we happen to find someone who needs First Aid/CPR we ought to know how to do it the pro way?  ANYWAY the boiling point of my question is I saw that I can take CPR/First Aid courses online vs taking the class in person (not that much of a savings but I would rather take one class for everything I need to know to get one certification rather than 3-4 certs).

Does CAP have specific agencies they will/will not recognize CPR/First Aid training from? (other than ARC)

You'd have to look at your state laws to find out if you're "required" to have one, though I wouldn't think you would be. That's usually mass public gathering areas and state buildings and stuff like that. Though, if you wanted to, I bet you could find a grant to get one for your unit if you really wanted to. I'm sitting in my station right now, and I don't think we have an AED in the building...granted we have a med unit parked here with all sorts of toys though 

Heathcare Provider level CPR is just a different delivery method of the same basic idea, just more focused on how medical professionals work. When you watch the videos and all, instead of "baby baby are you ok? call 911!", it's more like "baby baby are you ok? call a code and get the crash cart!" It also goes into a few caveats about how once you have a definitive airway in place (endotracheal intubation, king airway, etc etc) that you don't stop compressions for ventillations, use of a bag valve mask and how to use the "C-E" hold for face seal, etc etc. Mainly, it's just how us people with more than a pocket mask do the dance.

As far as doing it online vs in person, YMMV on that. IN Wing has policies in place that outline which courses are acceptable to meet the requirement for CPR/First Aid, and the "do them online" or "have a medical professional stand in front of a class and pontificate on first aid/CPR for a few hours" don't cut it. Some ARC CPR courses have you watch the videos and all online, and then go in and do the hands on stuff w/ an instructor, which is perfectly acceptable because its still meeting the standards of the course. Check with your local people, see their thoughts.

[1LtNurseOfficer]

Does CAP have specific agencies they will/will not recognize CPR/First Aid training from? (other than ARC)

Any nationally recognized patch awarded by a certifying agency (Heart Association, American Red
Cross, etc.) upon completion of a CPR training course. Patch will be removed when no longer
current.

[mynetdude]

Since we're talking about CPR/AEDs I have two new "branch" questions to ask that could be a new topic but I dunno... I'll let you all figure that one out.

Question 1: I have heard/read bits and pieces in the past that certain places are required to have AEDs in the workplace or schools, etc does this apply to CAP? As in, are squadrons supposed to have one should a member need CPR?

Question 2: I need to recertify my CPR it has not expired yet (although I can't find my card, I found it 2 months ago, it disappeared again). The red cross chapter supposedly offers Professional CPR/First Aid for BLS/Health Care folks and I know we CAP are not EMTs nor healthcare but we do SAR and if we happen to find someone who needs First Aid/CPR we ought to know how to do it the pro way?  ANYWAY the boiling point of my question is I saw that I can take CPR/First Aid courses online vs taking the class in person (not that much of a savings but I would rather take one class for everything I need to know to get one certification rather than 3-4 certs).

Does CAP have specific agencies they will/will not recognize CPR/First Aid training from? (other than ARC)

You'd have to look at your state laws to find out if you're "required" to have one, though I wouldn't think you would be. That's usually mass public gathering areas and state buildings and stuff like that. Though, if you wanted to, I bet you could find a grant to get one for your unit if you really wanted to. I'm sitting in my station right now, and I don't think we have an AED in the building...granted we have a med unit parked here with all sorts of toys though 

Heathcare Provider level CPR is just a different delivery method of the same basic idea, just more focused on how medical professionals work. When you watch the videos and all, instead of "baby baby are you ok? call 911!", it's more like "baby baby are you ok? call a code and get the crash cart!" It also goes into a few caveats about how once you have a definitive airway in place (endotracheal intubation, king airway, etc etc) that you don't stop compressions for ventillations, use of a bag valve mask and how to use the "C-E" hold for face seal, etc etc. Mainly, it's just how us people with more than a pocket mask do the dance.

As far as doing it online vs in person, YMMV on that. IN Wing has policies in place that outline which courses are acceptable to meet the requirement for CPR/First Aid, and the "do them online" or "have a medical professional stand in front of a class and pontificate on first aid/CPR for a few hours" don't cut it. Some ARC CPR courses have you watch the videos and all online, and then go in and do the hands on stuff w/ an instructor, which is perfectly acceptable because its still meeting the standards of the course. Check with your local people, see their thoughts.

I am looking to just re-certify I've done the hands on several times in the past and I have never had to use those skills quite frankly I'd just avoid it (oh no I'm not saying I wouldn't help anyone).

Yes some ARC courses now have online/in classroom (they call this blended learning). At a minimum I am required to obtain Adult/Child CPR and First Aid though it is always a good refresher to obtain infant CPR/First Aid when you are around a lot of of the public (air shows, disaster relief, etc but there will already be personnel there to take care of most of the work hopefully).

The advantage of doing it all online for me is I can sign up, be on the move and get it all done in other words my time space is not so stretched and I have more flexibility; that does not mean I should substitute hands on training however if it were nationally accredited why not?

There is an online site that says they comply with ECC 2005 American Heart, Red Cross and National Safety Council, I Have never heard of a nationally recognized agency (ARC) awarding patches, I have gotten the card but not patch.

[CadetProgramGuy]

Since we're talking about CPR/AEDs I have two new "branch" questions to ask that could be a new topic but I dunno... I'll let you all figure that one out.

Question 1: I have heard/read bits and pieces in the past that certain places are required to have AEDs in the workplace or schools, etc does this apply to CAP? As in, are squadrons supposed to have one should a member need CPR?

Question 2: I need to recertify my CPR it has not expired yet (although I can't find my card, I found it 2 months ago, it disappeared again). The red cross chapter supposedly offers Professional CPR/First Aid for BLS/Health Care folks and I know we CAP are not EMTs nor healthcare but we do SAR and if we happen to find someone who needs First Aid/CPR we ought to know how to do it the pro way?  ANYWAY the boiling point of my question is I saw that I can take CPR/First Aid courses online vs taking the class in person (not that much of a savings but I would rather take one class for everything I need to know to get one certification rather than 3-4 certs).

Does CAP have specific agencies they will/will not recognize CPR/First Aid training from? (other than ARC)

1.  CAP should have access to an AED, however costly to have one purchased for each unit.  There are some communities that are offering 'loaner' AED's to community activities, just to have one present.  http://www.tristateambulance.org/community_AED.htm is a good example.

2.  In my AHA training center, you are allowed to challenge the BLS Heartsaver course for re-certification if you are net yet expired and do not have your card.  However....you are only allowed one chance to challenge, if you fail you must re-take the BLS course.

I will just became a BLS instructor for AHA and it includes a whole host of other specialties than AED and what not.  Problem still exists in having multiple cards that one has to have on his/her person......

[mynetdude]

Since we're talking about CPR/AEDs I have two new "branch" questions to ask that could be a new topic but I dunno... I'll let you all figure that one out.

Question 1: I have heard/read bits and pieces in the past that certain places are required to have AEDs in the workplace or schools, etc does this apply to CAP? As in, are squadrons supposed to have one should a member need CPR?

Question 2: I need to recertify my CPR it has not expired yet (although I can't find my card, I found it 2 months ago, it disappeared again). The red cross chapter supposedly offers Professional CPR/First Aid for BLS/Health Care folks and I know we CAP are not EMTs nor healthcare but we do SAR and if we happen to find someone who needs First Aid/CPR we ought to know how to do it the pro way?  ANYWAY the boiling point of my question is I saw that I can take CPR/First Aid courses online vs taking the class in person (not that much of a savings but I would rather take one class for everything I need to know to get one certification rather than 3-4 certs).

Does CAP have specific agencies they will/will not recognize CPR/First Aid training from? (other than ARC)

1.  CAP should have access to an AED, however costly to have one purchased for each unit.  There are some communities that are offering 'loaner' AED's to community activities, just to have one present.  http://www.tristateambulance.org/community_AED.htm is a good example.

2.  In my AHA training center, you are allowed to challenge the BLS Heartsaver course for re-certification if you are net yet expired and do not have your card.  However....you are only allowed one chance to challenge, if you fail you must re-take the BLS course.

I will just became a BLS instructor for AHA and it includes a whole host of other specialties than AED and what not.  Problem still exists in having multiple cards that one has to have on his/her person......

Yeah I asked my ARC instructor whom is also a CAP member, he says the AEDs are fairly expensive to obtain still. Since CAP will not be using AEDs anytime soon, there does not seem to be a need for AED training on my books yet.

My understanding is if you take both CPR and First Aid in one class you won't need two cards, if you have to take them separately then you end up with a zillion other cards for example I will be taking CPR, First Aid and Blood-borne Pathogens (which I am not required to have).

[JayT]

Why isn't there a need for Public Access Defibrillator training when they are, by defination, suppose to be aviable in many community and public areas? They're becoming more and more common. Hell, even many of our hospitals have them around in nonclinical areas.

If a bunch of CAP types are working a community event, it's possible they'll be there with a PAD before EMS arrives.

[mynetdude]

Why isn't there a need for Public Access Defibrillator training when they are, by defination, suppose to be aviable in many community and public areas? They're becoming more and more common. Hell, even many of our hospitals have them around in nonclinical areas.

If a bunch of CAP types are working a community event, it's possible they'll be there with a PAD before EMS arrives.

I must be mistaken, however many community events I have been involved in with CAP have not had an AED present.  I do not see the likeliness of needing AED training at this time where I am and for the level of involvement we are in.  If your CAP unit/wing is involved in areas where there is readily accessible AEDs in community events then by all means you should train for use of it.

[EMT-83]

Why not just take the training and be done with it? The life you save just might be [insert family member's name here].

[mynetdude]

Why not just take the training and be done with it? The life you save just might be [insert family member's name here].

oh I will be taking the training, I just need to know if CAP will recognize the vendor whom I intend to go through.

[Eclipse]

CPR is not required by CAP, only First Aid.

[mynetdude]

CPR is not required by CAP, only First Aid.

Ah ok,so if CAP only requires First Aid I doubt that the American Heart would/could accredit First Aid training only CPR training? Thus the ARC would be one of the ones to accredit First Aid?

[SarDragon]

Would you rephrase that in something other than "genuine frontier gibberish", please?

[mynetdude]

Would you rephrase that in something other than "genuine frontier gibberish", please?

I'll do that when I can think better... ok since its so gibberish... uh ok

[Eclipse]

CPR is not required by CAP, only First Aid.

Ah ok,so if CAP only requires First Aid I doubt that the American Heart would/could accredit First Aid training only CPR training? Thus the ARC would be one of the ones to accredit First Aid?

There are any number of organizations that offer "Community-Level" First Aid that does not include CPR - in fact generally a good CPR class is separate from basic First Aid.

ASHI, Green Cross, and the ARC are three I can think of off the top of my head, but there are others.

[isuhawkeye]

The American Heart Association (AHA) does have a stand alone first aid class.  It is not the same as a CPR course. 

[mynetdude]

of course I know First Aid is not CPR two different subjects.

[isuhawkeye]

My point was to state that AHA has a first aid course