Class Details

How to perform high-quality chest compressions for adults, children, and infants.

1. Scene Safety & Recognition of Emergency

2. Breathing Assessment; Pulse Check

• Pulse Checks Required—BLS providers must check for a definitive pulse in cardiac arrest cases before initiating CPR or rescue breathing. BLS providers will learn different pulse check criteria for Adult, Child and Infant rescue.

3. High-Quality Chest Compressions

4. Rescue Breaths (If Trained & Willing)

✅ Open the airway using the head tilt-chin lift method or jaw thrust maneuver.

✅ Single Rescuer CPR
✅With an advanced airway in place (such as an endotracheal tube or supraglottic airway), the BLS ratio changes.

How to Use an AED:

• How to properly place AED pads on a person’s chest.

• How to follow the AED prompts to deliver a shock if necessary.

• Recognizing when CPR should continue after using the AED.

• Understand roles and responsibilities during a multi-rescuer resuscitation.

• Communicate effectively and work cohesively in a team setting.

Open the airway and provide effective rescue breaths using barrier devices or advanced airway equipment.

Uses head tilt-chin lift, or jaw thrust if spinal injury is suspected

Providing Breaths using bag-valve mask (BVM) if trained, or a pocket mask for safer ventilations.

Ventilation Rate for an advanced airway.

Heart Attack First Aid

1. Recognizing Symptoms

2. Immediate Action

Stroke First Aid

1. Recognizing Symptoms (FAST Method)

2. Immediate Action

• Burns – How to treat minor and severe burns.

• Choking – Techniques to assist a choking adult, child, or infant.

• Shock – Recognizing and providing first aid for shock.

• Sprains, Strains, and Fractures – Immobilization and basic care.

• Head, Neck, and Spine Injuries – Precautions and stabilization.

• Poisoning – What to do in case of ingestion, inhalation, or skin exposure.

• Heat-Related Emergencies – Heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration.

• Cold-Related Emergencies – Frostbite and hypothermia treatment.

• Seizures – How to respond safely and provide care.

• Allergic Reactions & Anaphylaxis – Recognizing symptoms and using an EpiPen.

• Bites & Stings – Treatment for insect, animal, and snake bites.

• Scene Safety and Legal Considerations.

• Emergency Moves

• Drowning

• Facial injuries

• Diabetic Emergencies

• Recognizing Severe Bleeding – Identifying life-threatening bleeding that requires immediate action.

• Applying Direct Pressure – Using firm, steady pressure with a clean dressing or cloth to stop bleeding.

• Using a Tourniquet – When and how to properly apply a tourniquet for severe limb bleeding.

• Wound Packing – Packing deep wounds with gauze or cloth when direct pressure alone isn’t enough.

• Shock Prevention – Recognizing and managing signs of shock from blood loss.

• Handling Nosebleeds – Proper positioning and techniques to control bleeding from the nose.

Breathing Emergencies

1. Signs and Symptoms of Breathing Problems

2. Choking

   • Adult, Child and Infant Choking:

   • Abdominal Thrust

   • Infant Choking: Back blows and chest thrusts for infants under 1 year old

3. Rescue Breathing

   • When and how to perform rescue breathing:

4. Respiratory Distress and Failure

   • How to recognize signs of respiratory distress or failure, and when to seek medical help.

5. Asthma and Anaphylaxis

   • Asthma attacks: How to recognize and assist someone having an asthma attack, including using a prescribed inhaler

   • Anaphylactic reactions: Identifying severe allergic reactions and how to use an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen)

• Recognizing an Opioid Overdose

  • Signs and symptoms of opioid overdose

• Responding to an Opioid Overdose

• Naloxone Administration (Narcan)

  Understanding the use of naloxone (Narcan), a medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose

  • How to administer naloxone (via nasal spray)

  • When to administer multiple doses if the person does not respond to the first dose of naloxone

• Managing Respiratory Arrest

  • If the person is not breathing or has irregular breathing, provide rescue breathing or CPR as needed

  • Continue CPR until emergency medical services (EMS) arrive or the person starts breathing again.

• Preventing and Educating on Opioid Risks

  • General opioid overdose prevention strategies.

As part of the certification process, participants will complete a Performance Evaluation alongside the instructor. This includes a real-life scenario read-through and a hands-on demonstration to assess proficiency in BLS CPR & AED use in Adult, Child and Infant, as well as Control of Bleeding Performance Evaluation.

To PASS and earn certification, participants must:

CPR/AED:

✅ Demonstrate competency in performing high-quality CPR and AED use. Inclusion of Team Dynamics is CPR.
✅ Follow AHA guidelines for pulse checks, compressions, rescue breaths, and AED operation.
✅ Respond appropriately to simulated emergencies with confidence and accuracy.

Skills Evaluated:

CPR / AED for Adults

• Scene safety and standard precautions

• Assessing responsiveness, breathing, pulse checks and activating EMS

• Performing chest compressions and rescue breaths (using BVM and other airway management techniques). Modifications for advanced airway in place.

• Proper AED setup and use

• Continuing care until EMS arrives

CPR / AED for Child & Infant

• Recognizing cardiac arrest in children and infants

• Performing age-appropriate chest compressions and rescue breaths

• Modifications for one-rescuer vs. two-rescuer CPR

• Using pediatric AED pads (or adjusting adult pads for infants)

• Ensuring proper post-resuscitation care

Control of Bleeding:

To PASS and earn certification, participants must:

✅ Assess the scene for safety before providing aid.
✅ Use standard precautions (e.g., gloves) to prevent infection.
✅ Recognize and respond to severe bleeding, including signs of shock.
✅ Apply direct pressure using dressings and additional pads if needed.
✅ Properly apply a tourniquet if direct pressure does not control bleeding.
✅ Monitor the victim and provide care until EMS arrives.

Skills Evaluated:

• Identifying life-threatening bleeding and taking immediate action.

• Proper application of dressings and maintaining direct pressure.

• Knowing when and how to apply a tourniquet effectively.

• Recognizing signs of shock (pale skin, cool temperature, weakness) and providing appropriate care.

• Communicating with EMS and ensuring continued care.

Successful completion of this evaluation is required to receive an AERT BLS Pro CPR / AED / First Aid certification card. Participants should be prepared to engage in hands-on practice and demonstrate each skill with proficiency.

• American Emergency Response Training (AERT) Certification: American Red Cross Certified / Nationally Recognized / Adheres to current AHA Guidelines. Please confirm with your employer.