First Aid Courses

There are 3 types of first aid courses you can take.

• Blended (it offers an online course followed up with an on-location class)
• Online
• Traditional on-location

Before the internet there was just one. We'll go over them here along with their pros and cons, who offers them and what they cost (and yes, you can find free first aid online).

Not that long ago you were offered 2 classes, First Aid or CPR. Now there is something for everyone. Here is a list of classes that are offered by most organizations.

Blended Courses

Pros: You get the best of both worlds. The convenience and speed of an online course with the hands on training traditional classes provide.

You can learn at your own pace. You can go back and review material that might not have sunk in the first time. Most websites allow you access to the course for months or even up to a year.

The multi-media approach engages you with sight, sound, video and graphics making learning more comprehensive, faster with better retention (it beats sitting down with a dull pamphlet).

The on-location training gives you hands on experience and the instructor can answer any questions that might arise. Classes last about an hour.

The corporate world likes the blended approach allowing their employees to learn at their own pace and then reinforcing that learning with a traditional class. It is also more cost effective if you have large groups of people to train.

Cons: Not many to be honest. You need to schedule a class with an instructor. If you are in a remote location this might not be convenient.

Before booking your class take a look at your warnings and recommendation in the next section that deals with online courses. Now what you're getting before you buy.

Cost: They start at around $24 up to $50.

Our recommendations: There are 3 that we really like.

• http://www.emergencyuniversity.com/index.html These guys have done it right. They offer a wide selection of classes (included a tattoo artist training course!). They offer free refresher courses and re-certification. You have access to the course material for 1 year.

  They keep track of all your classes and when they need to be renewed send you an email for your refresher course or re-certification. If you are an individual this my not be so important but if you run a company with 100 employees knowing who has taken what can be a real time saver. They will also mail certification information to the appropriate organizations when applicable. Gotta love it.

• https://www.icpri.info/english/index.html This is also an excellent site. They offer good value for the money. They give you 3 days to complete your course which is plenty of time. It doesn't look like you have access to the course after you have completed it, that may or may not be a problem for you.

http://www.redcross.org Some Red Cross locations now offer both online and blended classes. Just enter your zip code on the Red Cross homepage to find your local chapter.

Online Courses

You can be certified right there online and even print out your wall certificate and wallet card if you like, they are usually good for 2 years. You can take the exam as many times as you like in order to pass. There has been a lot of evidence that multimedia first aid courses are very effective at teaching first aid and cpr.

Companies and large organizations find the online approach very useful, it allows them to save costs and let the employee learn at their own schedule.

Cons: If you have no first aid experience at all an online class may not give you the confidence you need to handle yourself in an emergency situation. There is something to be said for hands on experience. We argue about this one in the office all the time. I think that when it comes to saving a life nothing beats learning with an instructor, asking questions, using the props and tools and getting a feel for what a real life situation might be like.

Be careful of the wording they use. If you need to be accredited make sure that is what they are offering. Websites will say that they follow American Heart Association guidelines or you can print a certificate online. Just because you have a certificate does not mean you are accredited, it just means you have a lovely wall hanging for your house and your wallet. If you are taking classes just so you can be prepared (good for you!) it may not matter if you are certified. But if you are a healthcare provider or daycare worker be sure to read the fine print.

Cost: Very affordable. Online classes are the most inexpensive way to go. Classes generally range from $19 at the low end to about $59 on the high end.

Be sure to consider these points before buying your course:

• How long do you have to complete the course? Does the time work with your schedule? What if you need to extend the time allowed will they charge you more? Most sites give you a time window in which to complete the course, 3 days seems to be the average.


• Do you have access to the course online or printed material after the class? You did pay for it after all and you might want to brush up on your skills six months from now.


• Who's guidelines are they following. Is it an organization I recognize like the American Heart Association or Red Cross?


• Are they using tricky language or does the website in any seem flashy or fake in anyway? Do they say you can print a certificate but refuse to say that you're accredited or certified? Do they say they follow standard first aid guidelines but won't say which organization?


• Who can you call or talk to if you have a first aid question?


• Will they keep track of your certification and when it needs to be renewed or do you have to remember?


• Can you get a refund if you did not find the course satisfactory or found it incomplete?


• Look for hidden fees. Sometimes they charge you $24 for the course and then charge you extra if you want to be certified.

Our recommendations:
Just get trained! The blessed internet can give you a wealth of information and classes. We like these guys (in no particular order of preference):

• http://www.cprtoday.com/index.php
  No nonsense to the point, professional. We like'em. They also offer 30 day access to the course.

• www.ptitraining.net
  They offer 6 months to view the course online and are very reasonably priced. Accredited.

• http://www.firstaidweb.com/
  You can take the course before you pay. So, if you don't need to be certified it's free first aid online. Love it.

• http://www.redcross.org/
  Your local Red Cross may offer online and blended courses. At the top of Red Cross homepage enter your zip code to find your local chapter. Not all locations offer it.

Traditional Courses

Working with props and with other people more closely mimics a real life emergency giving you valuable experience. In emergencies we tend to freeze or panic having performed the movements before in a classroom situation can reduce your anxiety and make you more effective.

You get a personal relationship with people in your community including your local rescue workers. (if you're a woman think good looking men in uniform, for the men attractive young ladies in uniform...whatever it take to get you into a first aid class!)

Cons: The classes are longer averaging about 4 to 5 hours. Though shorter classes are now being offered. You have to find a location and get there.

Though they try to make the scheduling convenient you are still subject to their timing.

You are exposed to the information just once, and retaining all that information at one sitting can be difficult. You're given hand outs but, if you are like me with the attention span of a fruit fly, 5 hours is a long time to stay alert.

Cost: Prices range from about $40 dollars for basic cpr, $60 for a combined course of adult, child and infant cpr up to $95 for professional rescuer training.

Our Recommendations:

There are two big players in this category and they are the very best so way go anywhere else.

• http://www.redcross.org/
  They've been doing it for over 100 years. They know their stuff. Click on the link at the top of the homepage and enter your zip code to find your local Red Cross chapter. Find the link that says 'Take a Class" or "learn CPR".

  Beyond first aid cpr the Red Cross also offers a host of other courses including babysitter's training, emergency preparedness, lifeguard and water safety and HIV/AID education.

• www.americanheart.org
  This is the American Heart Association. Click on the link and enter your zip code. The AHA will give a list of classes offered in your area at local hospitals, fire stations, CPR groups or community organizations. Just call to register for a class, prices vary depending on the organization.

Last Things

We've recieved a lot of emails asking for information on free first aid online. And yes, you can find good free first aid online provided you don't need to be certified or accredited. We have put together a list of our favorites. Hope you enjoy.

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