What's the Deal With Online Training?

If you're considering online certification or "blended learning" options for your training, be careful!  We talk to individuals on a weekly basis that have fallen victim to one of the many scams out there promising 100% online training which is then not accepted by their employer...leaving them scrambling for legitimate training and out money for a worthless certification.  Many times the websites use tricky wording that almost sounds like they're affiliated with the American Heart Association (such as "based on AHA's latest science recommendations" or "program developed by former AHA instructors with input from physicians").  Make no mistake!  Nothing except AHA's highly structured certification is equivalent to (or even acceptable in most healthcare settings) an AHA certification.  

AHA has an option for those that want to do a portion of their training online and then attend the final step with a certified instructor such as Heartland CPR.  You can complete the lecture, video, and written test online and then do your skills session with us after that is complete.  Please understand that most customers who go that route end up disappointed when they learn that it saves them neither time or money once you add the two parts together (that was never the intent when AHA introduced the blended learning option).   If you choose to use the "blended learning", you can find AHA's online course here: www.onlineaha.org .  We’ll be happy to help whichever way you choose to get your AHA training.  

No legitimate training is 100% online and, unfortunately, educated people fall for it and then we hear from them after they’ve wasted a good deal of time and money when their employers won’t accept it (and really, when you think about it, would you want someone running a code on your kid or family member that got their certification online with no hands-on practice and never even proved their identity?).

AHA’s “blended learning” is what you’re looking at when you see BLS-S, ACLS-S or PALS-S on our schedule; after you complete the video, lecture, and test online you must come to an instructor such as us to complete the hands on portion; we charge $160 for our portion (the AHA is paid separately for the online piece).  It is not cheaper or quicker once you add the two parts together; in fact, most customers tell us quite the opposite and always say they’ll come to a live class next time.  Our live BLS Provider classes run $100 (all inclusive); ACLS-R and PALS-R refreshers run $240 (everything included, even the textbook) and is an option as long as you haven’t let your current ACLS/PALS certification lapse (there is no grace period per AHA policy) and your BLS must also be current since that is a prerequisite to the advanced disciplines; the full 2-day ACLS Provider or PALS Provider course is $300.  If you happen to need BLS as well and choose to take a live class for that with us, you get a 10% discount on your advanced discipline(s) of ACLS and/or PALS and there are even options where you can do both in a single day for refreshers or a couple days for the full course(s).  Don’t let it expire though because once you do, you are required to start over with the full 2-day class in each of those advanced disciplines.

Still have questions?  Contact us and we'll answer your questions and help you get into legitimate training that fits your schedule!

#onlinescams #onlinecprtraining #bls #acls #pals #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

What Do All the Letters Mean in EMS?

Ever wondered who does what within EMS?  It's not as complicated as it sounds.  Some general definitions are contained here:

There are four nationally defined levels of EMS professionals: Emergency Medical Responder (EMR or First Responder), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT or Intermediate) and Paramedic (sometimes categorized as EMT-P).  One can work their way through the ranks of EMS and often do.

There are 15, 276 ambulance services in the US. They use 840,669 ground vehicles.

The types of Systems in the US:

• Fire Department with cross-trained EMS personnel: 40%
• Government of Third Service: 14.5%
• Private Company: 18%
• Other: 8%
• Hospital-based service: 7% 
• Fire Department with separate EMS personnel: 9% 

Within our community, Fire and the transport authority EMSA work closely together.  Fire Departments that respond have EMTs and many paid departments today in our region staff with Paramedics as well.  Volunteer services in smaller, rural communities may operate with First Responders.  In some regions of the US, many of these agencies operate completely with volunteers despite the training and continuing education requirements at the higher levels of EMS.

Several of our instructors are Paramedics and others are Firefighter/EMTs.  We are proud to support those in critical positions within our community saving lives and minimizing suffering.  If you are in Police, Fire, or EMS, be sure to let us know when registering so that we can extend a 10% discount on your required training.

#ems #emt #paramedic #firefighter #police #firstresponder #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

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

The History of Defibrillation

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are often considered as self-explanatory as fire extinguishers.  All AHA training in CPR now includes training on the use of AEDs because they are beginniing to show up in more and more public spaces, buildings, and businesses.  Known as "public access AEDs" and intended for use by whoever can get there to help first much like a fire extinguisher, they are placed visibly and made publicly available in malls, schools, government buildings, and other large spaces in addition to the more expected locations within hospitals and medical clinics.  Today's AEDs are easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and available to anyone nearby.  When one considers the potential for lives saved, their impact cannot be overstated.  Let's take a look at how rapidly AEDs have gone from a theory, to a chance successful use, to widespread public availability.  

In 1947, Dr. Claude S. Beck successfully used defibrillation therapy and saved the first human life, a child 14 years whom was undergoing cardiac surgery for a heart defect.

In the 1930s Claude Beck perfected operations to improve heart circulation. When he performed cardiac surgery, the heart sometimes went into ventricular fibrillation. (Heart muscles fibrillated, or twitched and contracted rapidly, disrupting the normal rhythmic heartbeat.) Beck could massage the heart, but this did not always stop the fibrillation and the patient would die on the operating table. Desperate for a remedy, he learned that a colleague at Western Reserve, the physiologist Carl J. Wiggers, had maintained circulation in laboratory animals by manual massage of the heart, followed by electrical defibrillation at a suitable time. Beck concluded that using electric shock to counteract fibrillation and restore normal heart rhythm would work for humans, too. In 1947 he successfully revived a patient for the first time. Subsequently, patients were resuscitated outside the operating room as well; and finally, massage and defibrillation across the intact chest have made cardiac resuscitation available at any place or time. Defibrillators have since been used daily in hospital emergency rooms and EMS units across the country. 

source: http://artsci.case.edu/dittrick/online-exhibits/explore-the-artifacts/claude-beck-defibrillation-and-cpr/ 

Gone are the days that a medical doctor or other professional has to determine the rhythm of the victim's heart or carefully calculate the amount of electricity to be administered (measured in joules) to correct it.  All of that knowledge is being used behind the scenes as the device determines whether or not a shock is indicated.  Not all unhealthy heart rhythms are benefited by a shock and, as the AED operator, one doesn't even need to know or understand any of that...all that is expected is simply to follow the directions given, combining the use of the AED with high-quality CPR.  Directions are simple to follow and are given audibly and, on some devices, appear on a screen similar to a text message as well.  

More important than a perfect response to the heart-related emergency is a willingness to act...and act quickly!  For every minute that the heart goes without a shock when one is needed, the chances of survival decline rapidly...approximately 10% per minute.  In very general terms, a shock that is delayed by five minutes gives the victim approximately a 50% chance of survival.  

Since most sudden cardiac arrest occurs when it's least expected, why not consider equipping your business or home with device with the potential to save a life?  AEDs are more affordable than ever.  High quality AEDs from reputable manufacturers can be purchased for less than $1500 and those with greater functionality or special features such as increased durability or waterproof units run a little more.  For comparison purposes that we Okies can relate to...an AED can be purchased for about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of a storm shelter and, statistically speaking, is more likely to save the life of a customer, co-worker, friend, or family member.  If you're ready to see how easy to use and affordable AEDs are today, we can help with that!

#defibrillation #aed #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

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

The Symbolism Behind The EMS Star of Life

Do you know the meaning behind the symbol that is used to signify EMS?  Known as the EMS Star of Life, each of the six points signify different things in the course of care.

The six points on the EMS Star of Life...in a clockwise rotation starting from 12 o'clock position:

1. Detection – The first rescuers on the scene, usually untrained civilians or those involved in the incident, observe the scene, understand the problem, identify the dangers to themselves and the others, and take appropriate measures to ensure their safety on the scene (environmental, electricity, chemicals, radiation, etc.). 

2. Reporting – The call for professional help is made and dispatch is connected with the victims, providing emergency medical dispatch.

3. Response – The first rescuers provide first aid and immediate care to the extent of their capabilities.

4. On scene care – The EMS personnel arrive and provide immediate care to the extent of their capabilities on-scene.

5. Care in Transit – The EMS personnel proceed to transfer the patient to a hospital via an ambulance or helicopter for specialized care. They provide medical care during the transportation.

6. Transfer to Definitive care – Appropriate specialized care is provided at the hospital.

Heartland CPR is a proud supporter of EMS and have a number of paramedics and EMT/Firefighters within our ranks as instructors.  If you are a customer that works in Fire, Police or EMS, let us know when you register so that we can extend a 10% discount on your training with us!

#ems #emt #paramedic #firefighter #police #firstresponder #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

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

History of the Nurses Cap

The white cap we associate with nurses immediately commands respect.  Those who have survived nursing school have their opinions about the cap's functionality and usually prefer to work in a setting with more lenient dress code, most commonly today colorful scrubs.  Still, one could bet they are still proud of the day they stood before family and friends in that cap signifying the culmination of all that hard work and dedication to their chosen field, ready to begin the career they have long prepared for.

Many don't know the history of that white cap but would likely find that quite interesting, as I did.

The nurse cap originated in the early Christian Era as a head covering for deaconesses that cared for the sick.  It is patterned after a nun’s habit to keep the hair neatly in place.  Religious organizations often provided nurse training to nuns, who acted as the first groups of organized nurses in medieval Europe.  This type of headdress was worn to show that they worked in the service of caring for the sick.  The head covering was more like a veil, but it later evolved into the nursing cap in the Victorian era.  During the 1800's head covering evolved into the more familiar white cap that was first used by Florence Nightingale.  Although this clothing item has long been phased out as it is known to carry pathogens, some countries still use this as part of the female nurses’ outfit.  Present day, the nursing cap is usually worn only for ceremonial purposes.

-excerpts from http://www.onlyanurse.com/nursingtopics/2015/6/20/the-history-of-the-nurses-hat 

If you've been to our office for training, you have probably seen our collection of antique medical equipment and memorabilia.  Among those items, you'll find a couple of different examples of nurses' hats dating back to the second World War.  

If you're a lover of antiques and history like we are, be sure to come check out our collection sometime...or, better yet, schedule a class with us at our office and update your life-saving skills while you're here!

#nursinghistory #nurse #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heratland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

Flashback: Oklahoma's Nursing Times (May 2017)

Heartland CPR caters to nurses

Devin Davis grew up with the medical field all around him. 

His grandmother recently retired from nursing. His stepdad is an EMS Chief and his mother’s Heartland CPR business focuses on teaching people how to save lives. 

And when he finally decided to join the family business he found something he never expected. 

Not only did he enjoy teaching, he enjoyed what he was teaching.

“I like to make sure people understand the science behind it,” Davis said of the CPR classes he teaches. “You’d be shocked at how many people who don’t understand - especially ones first going into EMT or nursing school - the basic principles of CPR and what we’re actually doing. They know how to do it, they just don’t know we’re trying to fill that heart up with blood and pump that oxygenated blood into the brain and then back down to the heart.”

By limiting class sizes, minimizing test anxiety, and taking every opportunity to exceed the expectations of customers, Heartland CPR engages participants with a fresh approach to training.

It’s why the business has such a huge following in the medical field. Flexibility has always been the cornerstone of Heartland’s business model.

“A lot of hospitals don’t take into account their nurses’ schedules,” Davis said. “We get a lot of run-off from nurses trying really hard to get into a class in the hospital but they don’t work with their schedule or the mannequins are old and hurt their hands.

“They come to us and we serve a lot of them.”

Whether it’s a customer’s first class or 50th, Davis knows 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.

Davis began in the family business in the back office, working on the company’s website design and marketing. He quickly migrated out into the field.

He’s learned how to tweak his message to a broad audience with Heartland offering classes for 18-year- olds to 80-year-olds.

The Davis family has built Heartland CPR into a successful business that revolves around providing life-saving skills in a fun, friendly environment.

Heartland CPR offers courses in CPR, AED, First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) as well the addition of Pet First Aid + CPR.

Flexibility and customer service drive Heartland.

Devin’s mother, Ginger, coordinates with individual travel nurses and travel nursing agencies who appreciate that Heartland provides training in multiple disciplines in a single weekend, and even have arranged with a nearby luxury hotel which offers discount accommodations to out-of- town overnight customers.

But that’s what Heartland specializes in, getting medical professionals the training and documentation they need when they need it.

One in-demand course is the S.T.A.T. program which stands for Sequentially Timed Accelerated Training. Nurses can renew the entire BLS, ACLS and PALS certification suite in a weekend.

Despite the demand, classes are limited to 10 people each.

It’s a Heartland tenet to ensure the quality of the training and the ability for students to ask questions and truly grasp the material.

To keep up, Heartland simply adds more classes. And the company’s ability to deliver training wherever the client needs it has made Heartland a nurse favorite.

From doctors to dental assistants to oil field companies, Heartland can put together a training package that fits the need.

The nimble model recently earned Ginger Davis an invitation to participate in the 2017 Emerging Leader’s Program sponsored by the US Small Business Administration Oklahoma District Office.

This intense program runs from April to October 2017 with applicants selected based on leadership, entrepreneurial skills, and solid business success.

Heartland CPR is also a recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s International Torch Award.

Presented annually since 1996, the International Torch Awards for Ethics honors companies who demonstrate best practices in leadership, character and high standards of organizational.

For the Davises, that’s just what a family business looks like. 

Devin Davis is continuing the family business at Heartland CPR 

which allows nurses to keep their skills certifications up to date.

#oklahomasnursingtimes #ont #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

Heartsaver Heroes

We at Heartland CPR teach a lot of people how to provide CPR and other related life-saving skills.  A large majority of our customers are nurses, EMTs, paramedics, and other medical professionals that no doubt use those skills on a regular basis.  In fact, the class that group takes is taught somewhat differently than the one for "lay rescuers" without a medical background.   For lay rescuers without a medical background, AHA's class is known as "Heartsaver" and there are several variations with mix-and-match modules depending on if the participant wants to also learn First Aid, etc.

Since this "Heartsaver" group is far less likely to get to put the skills they've learned to use, it's a real treat for us to hear from one of those customers who have used the skills to save a co-worker, friend or family member, or even a stranger.  We consider them our "Heartsaver Heroes" and we had the pleasure of recognizing a couple of them recently them during CPR Week.  You'll find blog entries with the individual stories of Brent Taulbee and Terry Taylor, who we are proud to have among our "Heartsaver Heroes".  Each received a pin and certificate for their willingness to act when the need arose; we are thrilled that they reached out to tell us their stories so we could celebrate their achievements with them.

Congrats to these two wonderful gentlemen and their families.  Family trees are forever changed as a result of their courage to act..that's something to be proud of!  

#heartsaver #hero #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

Guest Blogger: Terry Taylor

We love hearing from former customers who have put to use the skills they learned in one of our classes.  Recently Terry Taylor who received Heartsaver First Aid+CPR training at his place of employment, Assurance Marketing, reached out to us with an unbelievable story of just how quickly he put his skills to use on a family member.  He can tell it far better than we could; see for yourself:

March 27, 2017

Ms Ginger Davis
Heartland CPR
8101 NW 10th
Suite #C3
Oklahoma City, OK  

Dear Ms Davis,

I just wanted to thank you for having Devin come out to our office location on Friday the 24th and train all of us on Adult CPR and AED.  Everyone came up to me later to tell me how much they had learned and how much more confident they were about helping someone in trouble.

I would also like to share a personal story that may be of interest to you.

The CPR training that day provided numerous scenarios of a person needing assistance which included what to do when someone is choking and not able to breath.  OK, good to know right?

Well, as luck would have it, my wife prepared an amazing tortilla soup that very Friday night.  All was going great as we talked about our day and what we were going to do on the weekend, when suddenly she grabbed my leg, got up and held her hands to her throat.  Instinctively I asked her, "Do you need help, are you choking?"  She nodded her head YES so I got behind her and placed my fist where Devin had shown us.  I then gave her a strong upward squeeze and POP...out came a tortilla chip that had gotten lodged in her throat.  Man, talk about perfect timing, some would call it God's timing.

I think it is ironic, in a good way, that I had set out looking for a company like Heartland CPR to come to our office so the employees could take care of each other, and as it turned out saved my wife's life.  

This is my story.  You may share it with anyone who is considering having your company come out to provide lifesaving instruction to their employees.

Gratefully yours,

Terry P Taylor

We are so proud that Terry acted decisively and skillfully handled a scary situation...and so grateful that he shared his story with us.  Every instructor at Heartland CPR is fully committed and knows that what we teach is important and has the potential to change or save a life.  We can't have "off" days when we are teaching something so vitally important, so we carefully select instructors that embody that passion for what we're doing here.  It's not just job or a paycheck...this is why we do what we do and we can never lose site of that.  

Thanks Terry for sharing your story with us and congratulations on a job well done!

#lifesaver #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

- Ginger Davis

Heartland CPR, llc

405-603-6666

www.HeartlandCPR.com

CPR Week is in June

CPR Week is coming up!  To celebrate, we're making presentations to a few local "Heartsaver Heroes" that have used the skills they learned in our classes to help a family member so stay tuned for that...but we're also having daily give-aways for the rest of you guys!  Follow us on social media and get in on the action to win CPR barriers, first aid kits, even free training!

We'll give away a lot of goodies to our followers so be watching for details on each daily giveaway and celebrate CPR Week along with us!

#cprweek #heartsaver #hero #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

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

CPR Week Is Around The Corner

If you could make one resolution that could change the course of your life...or someone else ...would you?  Did you know that taking a CPR class has more potential to change the course of history than most anything else you can do with a few hours of your time?  By saving the life of a loved one, friend, coworker, or even a stranger...maybe this year, perhaps next, could even be ten or more years from now...the impact is huge and lasting for those don't have to grieve the loss of a loved one, for that individual that gets a second chance at life, and because you were in the right place at the right time and knew what to do, acted without hesitating, you become a hero to so many.

We call them our Heartsaver Heroes.  Ordinary people who do something extraordinary.  During CPR Week, we will highlight a few or our customers that have done something extraordinary and then shared their stories with us.  We hope you'll watch for those stories and join us in celebrating these wonderful stories and individuals.

#cprweek #heartsaver #hero #smallbusiness #cpr #aha

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