CPR courses teach more than just chest compressions and rescue breaths. A typical class also includes instruction on how to help a stroke victim or how to intervene in different types of medical emergencies. While this information is generally good to know, not everyone needs or wants to learn the in-depth first aid information a group CPR training course may offer.

Before you sign up for a group CPR course, see if they offer the kind of instruction you’re looking for. An advanced class may be too much information for someone just looking to fulfill a job requirement, for instance. On the other hand, an aspiring doctor can’t get away with just a basic life support certification. How much instruction is right for you?

How detailed do you want your CPR training to be? Here’s what you can expect from each level of instruction. Click To Tweet

Basic Life Support (BLS)

A BLS certification course is designed for a broad audience. Anyone looking for an AHA certification, whether for their job’s requirements or their own personal skills, can find value in this course. Common students include nurse techs, security guards, and babysitters.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

An advanced CPR class requires that you’ve already passed the BLS course, since it builds on what you learned in that class. The advanced course includes instruction on other forms of life support, using professional medical equipment, and more. This level of teaching is designed for anyone entering the healthcare field, such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, or therapists.

Heartsaver First Aid & CPR

Our Heartsaver first aid course teaches basic life support, as well as how to properly use an AED. However, this class is less designed for healthcare professionals and more for anyone who just wants to be prepared for an emergency situation. Common students include fitness trainers, babysitters, teachers, and others with similar jobs.

Pro Tip: If your job involves spending time with lots of people all day (for instance, as a teacher or retail employee), you may want to take the Heartsaver CPR course since its lessons are very applicable in crowd settings.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Finally, a PALS course focuses on advanced first aid and life support for pediatric patients. As an advanced class, this course has a few prerequisites, including successfully passing a BLS course, the most current copy of the AHA PALS handbook, and a basic understanding of cardiac pharmacology. This class is ideal for anyone entering the pediatric healthcare field.

Find the Instruction You Need

Just as you shouldn’t cut corners on your professional medical training if you’re planning on being a doctor, you shouldn’t make yourself sit through a class learning how to use medical equipment you’ll never own. Find a group CPR training course that provides just the level of CPR instruction you need.

Connect with us to start looking for the perfect CPR course near you!