November is for Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is coming up this weekend and Heartland CPR is rolling out some specials to keep your family safe this season!  All our first aid kits, emergency supplies, barrier devices, tee shirts, and stocked items will be "Buy One, Get One 1/2 off" so you can stuff those stockings with something of real value.  Can you imagine a family member or friend being saved because they were prepared with a first aid kit or barrier device for providing CPR?  What about a first aid kit that will be used over and over for years to come?  Everything we stock, also seen on our "shop" page, https://www.heartlandcpr.com/shop.html, will be included in this special.  (Note that our page includes the shipping fee, so all items can be discounted $5 when picked up at our office.)

If certification training is more the desire of your gift recipients this year, we're offering gift certificates at 10% off face value...that means you can prepay for a $100 BLS or Heartsaver CPR+AED class for just $90 and gift someone on your Christmas list with the gift of education.

And, finally, we do offer AED sales.  As a sub-distributor, we can't run this kind of specials on life-saving devices from the quality manufacturers we represent, but we can assure that we can sell them for less than any online or storefront out there...and we're a small local business that's still going to be here when you need more pads or batteries replaced.  What an ideal group gift from the whole family for parents, grandparents, or whoever would like to be prepared to save a life should the need arise.  Did you know 88% of cardiac arrests happen in the home and every minute someone who needs a shock to the heart goes without one, their chances of survival drop by 10% per minute; with responding first responders 5-8 minutes away, that's a dangerous gamble.

Our office will be open 9am-3pm on Small Business Saturday, November 27th.  Stop in and see us, grab a gift certification for the babysitter, new parent, pet parent, healthcare worker, or anyone in your life that could benefit from training and take home a gift that keeps on giving long after the fruitcake gets thrown out.  

#smallbusinesssaturday #firstaidkits #bogo #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR, llc
405-603-6666
www.HeartlandCPR.com

A Few Things Everyone Should Know About CPR

We created some artwork to cover some of the more common questions we are asked by participants in CPR classes.  Enjoy!

Feel free to share.  It might save a life!

#cprfacts #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HearltandCPR.com

Give The Gift of Learning to Save a Life This Christmas Season

 During this season of thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for our loyal customers and grateful for a team that  represents us so well.  During the month of December, we are offering gift certificates which can be used for training, first aid kits (four sizes available as well as a pet-specific kit), or any emergency supplies that we stock at 10% off face value, good through 2022…the perfect gift for the nurse, EMT, babysitter, grandparent, or new parents on your Christmas list!  That's right...get a $100 gift certificate for just $90 through the end of the month of December.  For the really difficult to buy for, consider the  life-saving gift of an AED from the entire family!  We can help with all that and, really, what other gift will still be giving for a lifetime moreso than something that has the potential to save the life of a loved one?

Since 2003, Heartland CPR, llc (formerly Custom Training Solutions) has been providing AHA training in CPR, AED use, First Aid, BLS (Basic Life Support) Provider, ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support). At the request of our customers, in 2013, we began selling several affordable, quality brands of AEDs and accessories as well as adding a variety of well-stocked first aid kits and emergency supplies;. In 2014, we introduced our “STAT Program”, allowing healthcare professionals to obtain or renew certification in multiple disciplines in a couple of days using sequential scheduling, discount packages, and by partnering with a nearby luxury hotel that offers a corporate rate to our customers who need to stay overnight, and we added “The PET (Pet Emergency Training) Project” to our class lineup.  We began 2015 in a new suite decorated like an antique medical museum with a full-time office staff assisting our customers during 10-4 business hours in addition to our team of instructors teaching varied shifts virtually 24/7; additionally we began offering a free First Aid + CPR class using our equipment and expertise to teach life-saving skills to those wishing to learn for their own peace of mind but not in need of an official, costly AHA certification.  We volunteered to be first in this region when AHA introduced the option for e-cards in early 2018, eliminating lost/damaged cards which are costly to replace and that has been well-received by our customers. We firmly believe that doing what everyone else does gets you what everyone else gets, so we set out from the beginning and continue to do things differently than the rest…from straight-forward, all-inclusive pricing and issuing immediate certifications to how we go about selecting the instructors that represent us.

What began as a small home business with husband and wife instructors is now a registered, small woman-owned business with an A+ rating which has been recognized by the BBB as the 2014 Torch Award winner for the small business category in the OKC area and has received multiple “Best of OKC” awards”. We have hundreds of positive reviews on virtually every online forum and social media platform averaging 5 stars across all channels.  Heartland CPR’s owner, Ginger Davis, participated in the SBA’s “Emerging Leaders”program alongside the best and brightest CEOs in the state of Oklahoma, while Brian Davis was recognized as a “Dinosaur of EMS” for his longevity in emergency medicine, having served in virtually every capacity and agency in the OKC metro EMS system during his 30+ year career.  We continue to add outstanding instructors to our team based on character traits that embody Heartland CPR’s mission and vision; we are proud to retain some of the most respected professionals in their fields who have been saving lives for decades and together boast of combined training and instruction expertise of over 90 years!

We invite you to visit our website www.HeartlandCPR.com to learn more, contact us to schedule the next training session for your group or inquire about adding a life-saving AED to your business, church, club, organization, or home. We sincerely appreciate the trust you’ve placed in us, and thank you for your continued support!  It has been our sincere pleasure to be your choice for American Heart Association related training. Whether we provide training at your location or you refer individuals to classes held at ours, please know that you have played a part in our growth and success. There is perhaps no better time to say a heartfelt “thank you” to each of you than during this holiday season as we reflect on the blessings we have been entrusted with.

Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a prosperous year ahead!

#giftcertificate #smallbusiness #cpr #aed #firstaid #aha

Frontline Fighters Scholarship Program is Making Waves

Heartland CPR introduced the Frontline Fighters scholarship program last year and have had 15 individual donations to this fund during that time ranging from a recurring $10 per month anonymous donation to a one-time $300 donation and others in between.  We have been witness to the domino effect set in place by the generosity of individuals in our community and we want to share and encourage others to get involved.  

Back in January, Lisa was the recipient of a $100 scholarship donated by Cathryn under what we call our "Frontline Fighters" scholarship program.  Lisa had lost her job due to COVID, was desperately trying to return to work, and had to update her ACLS Provider certification, which is quite costly.  She vowed to “pay it forward” when she got back on her feet if she got the job she was interviewing for.  In August, Lisa contacted us and contributed $300 to the scholarship fund for someone else.  We promised the first $100 to a young lady named Katie to cover her BLS Provider but the remaining $200 was applied to Carol’s ACLS Provider class in a few weeks.  Under the program, we discount our fee by 10% and then apply the scholarship, so many times the recipient pays a small balance or nothing at all for their needed AHA training.  Each of you played a vital role in making this vision a reality right here in your own community!

Frontline Fighters scholarship program info:

Many in our communities are looking for ways to give back to our frontline healthcare professionals and, while food deliveries are great, we have an idea that will last long after the next meal is served.  How about pre-paying for the required training of a healthcare professional?  These professionals have to recertify every two years at a minimum in CPR (known as BLS Provider); many, depending on specialty also have to take ACLS and/or PALS as well.  Heartland CPR presents the “pay it forward” scholarship that allows appreciative community members to pre-pay for a healthcare professional’s training - either by assigning that payment to a particular individual, field of work, hospital system or employer, zip code, or just about any restrictions you'd like placed on it - or you can choose to let us apply it on a first-donated/first-requested basis.  We’ll let you know how your  “scholarship” dollars were used and who the recipient was; likewise, we’ll let the recipient know who funded their training, unless of course you choose to remain anonymous.  Heartland CPR wants to help be part of the solution to keep our healthcare professionals trained and working on the front lines and let them know how very appreciated they are in their communities!  Reach out to us if this program is of interest to you or your place of business.  

We are proud to partner with generous donors in our community to recognize and lighten the load of our healthcare professionals who have been impacted by the COVID19 pandemic.  Thanks for partnering with  Heartland CPR in this endeavor!

#covid #scholarship #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

Where Can You Learn CPR Free Of Charge?

Where can you learn CPR free of charge?

We get calls all the time asking where people can get a free CPR class, and I am tasked with telling people that they won't find a free class for those whose employment or educational facility requires certification.  I usually explain that AHA materials are costly (and mandatory) for every participant, and the fee the instructor (or company) must pay for those materials account for about half of the fee charged for a given class.  Since 99% of those asking must have the classes for certification, that's the end of the conversation.  

Some agencies have received grants enabling them to purchase the necessary supplies to teach the most basic class, often called "CPR for Family & Friends", in communities; other groups have other revenue streams so this type of course keeps employees already on the payroll busy and their teaching skills sharp, maybe on a monthly or quarterly basis.  These very basic classes have different requirements than certification classes and allows instructors to teach a far greater number of students at once, which also means less overhead cost.  Even these very basic classes have become harder and harder to find without charge, probably due to fewer grants being awarded for community education opportunities.  If you are one of the few that simply wants to learn CPR for your own peace of mind and don't need a certification card, we have just the ticket!

Heartland CPR, has developed a short PowerPoint-based class covering basic First Aid and hands-only CPR.  We plan to offer what we call "First Aid 4 Dummies" (FA4D) to the public free of charge on a recurring basis.  We rolled out this new program initially in February to capitalize on the Red Dress promotions, others have coincided with "CPR Awareness Week" in June, sometimes we make use of Spring or Fall Break.   We make nothing by offering it and will utilize our facility, equipment, instructors, and expertise; it's just our way of giving back to a community that has allowed us to be successful since 2003.  

Mark your calendars for Monday March 13th. The next of these classes will be offered at our office location near NW 122nd & MacArthur.  There is no catch...this is a free class offered to those who wish to learn simple steps they can take to respond in emergency situations and potentially save lives.  Instead of charging for this valuable training, we will be accepting donations for the Regional Food Bank, so please bring a canned food or non-perishable food item with you.  Since we have to know how many supplies to prepare, you must pre-register and can self-register online at www.HeartlandCPR.com, by contacting Heartland CPR via email "contact@HeartlandCPR.com" or calling by phone at 405-603-6666...simply let us know your name, email address, phone number, and the number planning to attend.  That's it!

Remember, this is not for certification and targeted at those wishing to learn for their own peace of mind; if you are required to take a class for your employer or education requirements, this is not the class you need (although we can still help you there).  Thanks for your interest in Heartland CPR!

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to come learn to save a life with us!

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 A little about Heartland CPR, llc

Heartland CPR has quickly become the go-to choice in the OKC area and statewide for emergency training.  We offer AHA's Heartsaver courses for non-medical personnel as well as BLS, ACLS and PALS for Healthcare Providers.  We would be happy to get your recommendation when you are approached for training.  

Although our business has celebrated a decade in business, my husband Brian has been a paramedic within almost every system in the Oklahoma City area and been an instructor for most of the past 25 years.  I have been an instructor and in business since 2003, and we have twelve contracted instructors with combined experience as instructors as well as their fields of nursing and paramedicine well over half a century!  

With a minimum of six participants, we will take training to our customers in the metro area; we will even travel state-wide for larger classes.  When there are smaller groups or individuals in need of training, we can accommodate those requests by combining individuals in order to make classes.  We always have those classes which are open to the public posted on the schedule on our website, www.HeartlandCPR.com, for the coming months offered at our OKC office location at NW 10th & Council and other locations around the metro.  

We have been providing AHA training in BLS, ACLS & PALS to various medical facilities and individuals for well over a decade and we have been committed since the beginning to personalized quality training.   We understand that the time of participants is precious, so we do our best to cover the material in the most efficient manner possible; we don't simply aim to fill a mandated timeslot when everything of value has been covered.  The responsible use of our customer's time is second only to our dedication to quality training and assuring that every participant certified with us has a genuine knowledge of the material.  Despite the occasional pleas from those "give us the test and let us get out of here" types, our dedication to our values are reaping us the rewards that come with the reputation that is known for quality rather than "cattle-herding", low-quality, quickie classes with unengaged instructors.  

Seriously, our instructors are some of the best there are.  We have so carefully selected them based on personally observed character and work ethic rather than just a resume on paper; they are active in their churches and communities and are passionately using their gifts to make a difference, one person at a time.  Paramedics and other BLS instructors approach us constantly about picking up work with us and that just isn't the way we operate.  When we want someone, we approach them...not the other way around.

Heartland CPR is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating and was honored with the Torch Award for the OKC area in 2014.  We have been ranked “Best Of” Thumbtack and many local directories too numerous to mention and consistently have outstanding customer reviews across all online platforms including Yelp, Google, Facebook, etc.

  

our mission

At Heartland CPR, teaching life-saving skills to others is our passion. By limiting our class sizes, minimizing test anxiety, and taking every opportunity to exceed the expectations of our customers, we engage participants with our fresh approach to training. Whether it's a customer's first class or fiftieth, we know that there is always something more that can be learned. When it comes to required certification training, boredom shouldn't be the norm and laughing shouldn't be outlawed. We believe that learning can - and should - be fun!

our vision

At Heartland CPR, we endeavor to set the training standard by making learning fun, offering superior service to our customers, and retaining talented trainers who continually strive for excellence in their fields. Respect for one another along with our collective faith-based values will guide our every decision and action. Our dedication to the training provider we represent, the contractor partners that represent us, and the customers that we serve sets us apart from our competition, impacting our continued growth and success.

  

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Come learn to save a life with us by taking advantage of this rare opportunity for free training!

#freecpr #smallbusiness #cpr #firstaid #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

Limited Time AED Offer

If you’ve ever thought about investing in an AED for your home or office, now is the time!  HeartSine is the unit I have personally chosen for our office and now through September they are offering an incredible package deal on this incredible unit!  This is a value of well over $2000 with lots of free accessories for only $1285!  Here’s what you get in this special deal:

Included in this price: 

• 1 Brand New Heartsine Samaritan PAD 350P AED Unit with case
• 8 Year Manufacturer Warranty 
• 1 Adult PAD-PAK (Electrode Pads & Battery Cartridge) 
• 1 User Manual 
• 1 Quick Reference Card 
• 1 Samaritan PAD Carrying Case 
• 1 Medical Prescription / Authorization 
• 1 Premium AED+CPR Responder Pack 
• 1 Double Sided AED Wall Sign 
• 1 AED Storage Wall Cabinet 

This incredible deal won’t last!  Contact us today if you’d like learn more!  

#aed #automatedexternaldefibrillator #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

Paying It Forward Comes Full Circle

You know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when someone ahead of you in the drive thru line pays for your order?  Last year, as the COVID19 pandemic drug on, we introduced our Frontline Fighters scholarship program and the OKC community responded.  We have one donor who sends a partial $10 donation each month to allow her contributions to help more people; thus far, this donor has provided partial payment assistance to nine individuals!  A few others have paid in full for another's BLS Provider (CPR for healthcare personnel and the minimum requirement for anyone in a health career) certification.  

But the story we want to tell today is that of a customer named Lisa.  We met Lisa back in January when she was a healthcare professional unemployed due to COVID19 impacting her field and looking for work; in order to gain new employment, she needed not only BLS but also ACLS certifications.  Around the same time, we had someone who donated $100 toward a scholarship for someone who needed assistance.  We matched up Cathryn's donation and covered the first $100 of Lisa's class fees.  

What we didn't know until recently was that when Lisa was blessed with Cathryn's scholarship, she made a promise to herself that if she got a job she was interviewing for, she planned to pay it forward and help someone else when she found work and began getting paychecks.  Well, Lisa reached out to us last week with her good news...she found a great job and was ready to pay it forward; in fact, she was going to not only repay the $100 that blessed her when she needed, but she rolled that into $300 to help others!  We have front row seats to watch the Oklahoma Standard in practice and couldn't be prouder to watch what the community can do when given the tools and an idea.

To assist those who are helping others get their required certifications during this ongoing pandemic that is once again ramping up, we offer a 10% discount to help their contributions go even further.  Donors can choose how their scholarship is used...to a particular individual, employer, department, facility, specialty, zip code, or just about any other way they choose to select recipients; some even choose to remain anonymous and we honor that request as well when matching up their donations to recipients.  To learn more about the program, see this past blog post: https://heartland-cpr.blogspot.com/2020/04/frontline-fighters-scholarships.html

If you or your business would like to get involved with our Frontline Fighters scholarship program, reach out to us today and find out what your contribution can do for a neighbor impacted in one of the many ways COVID19 is changing the landscape of our medical community.  

#payitforward #scholarships #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR, llc
405-603-6666
www.HeartlandCPR.com

Giveaways! Giveaways! Giveaways!

Heartland CPR is celebrating!  As we head into summer, many of the groups that make up our clientele are being celebrated.  We celebrate by letting those folks stop by our office and spin our wheel where you can win a first aid kit, barrier device, tee shirts, or a coupon for a discount on training or any of the items we stock.  

Nurses Week - May 6th - 12th

Student Nurses Day - May 8th

EMS Week - May 15th - 21st

CPR Week - June 1st - 7th

We're welcoming nurses and student nurses in early May, we'll welcome EMS personnel in a couple of weeks, and in early June we'll welcome all our CPR customers.  These groups are invited to stop by our offices during business hours Monday through Friday 10 am - 4 pm...or after hours/weekends if they're attending a class with us...to spin the wheel and take home the goodies.  Every spin is a winner!

 

#giveaways #freebies #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR, llc
405-603-6666
www.HeartlandCPR.com

Babysitters Listen Up!

Do you have a teen or pre-teen wanting to begin babysitting this summer or add to their resume?  We have scheduled a Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid + CPR during CPR week (June 1st-7th) to bring these participants together in a pediatric-specific class with others wishing to certify for the same reason.  Although the content is much the same as any American Heart Association Heartsaver class, this one uses children and infants in the scenarios and videos take place in daycares and schools as opposed to factories and jobsites with adult victims.  Mark your calendars for our June class offering and call your friends to join you.  Most kids can be certified at around the age of twelve, depending on level of maturity and attention span.  

Self-register at www.HeartlandCPR.com or give us a call at 405-603-6666 and we can help you!

#babysitters #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR, llc
405-603-6666
www.HeartlandCPR.com

Paying It Forward

We have matched up a few $10 scholarships from a donor that wanted to give a little every month rather than a single large donation.  That's great too!  This donor wanted to remain anonymous but she's helped Daniel in December, Carissa in January, and her February contribution is in the process of being matched up to a recipient now.

We also had someone reach out who wanted to donate $100 toward someone else's training.  Cathryn's scholarship was matched up with an appreciative Lisa, who has been severely impacted by COVID19 and currently not working but required to have a costly ACLS class before she can return.  She was so grateful for the Frontline Fighters scholarship program and Cathryn's generosity!  Shortly after Lisa scheduled her class and picked up her textbook, someone scheduled her for an interview.  She was so excited, she contacted us to say that if she gets the position, she's going to pay it forward for someone else.  This is the OKC standard and we're so proud to be able to facilitate that!

Heartland CPR discounts training for all receiving a scholarship by 10% to stretch those donated dollars even further.  To learn more about the Frontline Fighters scholarship program, click here: https://heartland-cpr.blogspot.com/2020/04/frontline-fighters-scholarships.html

Congrats to Daniel, Carissa, and Lisa and huge thanks to Cathryn and an anonymous donor for their contributions during this time when so many are impacted by COVID19 and the repercussions.  If you'd like to get involved, give us a shout!

#payitforward #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR, llc
405-603-6666
www.HeartlandCPR.com

What's The Difference Between CPR and BLS?

Just like "math" is a very general term for many diversified subjects including Algebra, Geometry, and Trig, "CPR" is a general term for life-saving techniques including chest compressions and rescue breathing.  What does differ, is which specific class is required by different fields of work or as a prerequisite for certain college classes.  

"Heartsaver" classes are, in general, for lay rescuers.  These classes have mix and match modules and can be as simple as CPR/AED instruction only or may include First Aid as well.  They can be further personalized because some groups need Pediatric (Child and Infant) training, others wish to focus on Adult training (usually in the workplace), and still others want to cover it all.  There is even Heartsaver training specifically for K-12 educational facilities that provides a slightly less expensive certification card in an effort to help struggling schools keep their teachers and staff trained.  Our classes are intended to cover Adult, Child, and Infant procedures and we only leave out modules when a customer or employer specifically asks us not to include it; in those cases, the certification card is marked as such to indicate that the participant isn't certified in some of the modules and specifies which.  Heartsaver also offers add-on classes such as Bloodborne Pathogens for those that need that as well.  Those that typically need Heartsaver level training are lifeguards, childcare workers, oilfield and construction personnel, personal trainers, etc.

Far more common is "BLS (Basic Life Support) Provider".  This, too, is CPR (remember the math vs algebra above?)...but at a much more advanced level.  At this level, participants check pulses, usually have access to bag masks or other barrier devices, must practice as a member of a team, and have to take a written test.  This class is what is needed by all medical personnel or those pursuing a medical education such as those in nursing school, an EMT or paramedic program, and medical residencies.  This is also the minimum basic level of certification that those in the medical field such as nurses, physicians, CNAs, dental hygienists, and a host of other "healthcare providers" who must remain certified throughout their careers.  AHA certifications are valid for two years, so we see this group over and over through the years for recertification.  Because this is by far the most popular class we teach, we offer many options each week and dozens every month which are open to the general public.  Unfortunately, many of the colleges that offer nursing and EMS programs aren't intimately familiar with AHA terminology...so often the students beginning these programs are simply told to take "a CPR and AED class".  The resulting confusion sometimes means that they sign up for the lower-level Heartsaver class "because it looks closer to what their paperwork says".  We have instituted many safeguards to attempt to help those unfamiliar with this terminology "gap" by asking any customer signing up for Heartsaver-level classes, at a minimum, what they do for a living and whether they are in a nursing or EMS program in college.  We don't want anyone to waste valuable time or money on a class that won't be acceptable for their needs, so everyone from those answering the phones and email to the instructor who greets participants when they arrive for class works very hard and spend a lot of extra time trying to be pro-active and keeping that from happening to any of our customers.  

These aren't the only AHA classes, but they are the ones that are responsible for the most confusion.  ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) are very advanced classes for a subset of the healthcare professionals group.  They are, in essence, learning about codes...just like you see on ER or other medical scenes.  We teach those as well and pride ourselves on making a very difficult topic much easier to comprehend.  

Whether you're just beginning nursing school and taking your first class or have taken many disciplines and recertified many times over the years, Heartland CPR is here to help!

#heartsaver #bls #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR, llc
405-603-6666
www.HeartlandCPR.com