BLS, First Aid & CPR for Healthcare Providers (AHA Aligned)
Rapid intervention during cardiac arrest saves lives. This high-yield course teaches emergency scene assessment, high-quality chest compressions (depth, rate, recoil), pocket-mask and bag-valve-mask ventilations, AED application, opioid overdose naloxone administration, and primary first aid.
Course Director & Lead
Marcus Sterling, EMT-P, BSN
BSN, Paramedic, AHA BLS/ACLS Certified Instructor
Free registration required for lesson access
What You Will Learn
Course Objectives
- Execute high-quality adult, child, and infant CPR according to AHA guidelines
- Safely operate any automated external defibrillator (AED) in under 60 seconds
- Deliver effective rescue breaths with barrier masks and bag-valve devices
- Manage foreign body airway obstruction (choking) in responsive and unresponsive victims
Curriculum & Syllabus
2 modules • 6 lessons • Passing score: 80%
1.1 Scene Safety, Responsiveness & Activating 911
Verifying environmental hazards, shoulder-tap shout check, carotid pulse check, and assigning specific bystanders to call 911.
1.2 Mechanics of High-Quality Adult Compressions
Hand placement on lower half of breastbone, locking elbows, compressing 2 to 2.4 inches, and allowing complete chest recoil.
1.3 AED Principles, Pad Placement & Shock Safety
Powering on AED, pad application on upper right chest and lower left ribcage, clearing the patient, and immediate CPR resumption.
2.1 Infant & Child CPR Adaptations (Brachial Pulse & 2-Finger Technique)
Checking brachial pulse in infants, two-thumb encircling or two fingers, 1.5 inch depth, and rescue breath emphasis.
2.2 Choking Relief: Abdominal Thrusts & Back Slaps
Heimlich maneuver for adults and children; 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts for choking infants.
2.3 BLS Healthcare Provider Certification Exam
Comprehensive assessment evaluating CPR metrics, AED protocols, and emergency algorithms.
Course Prerequisites
- No prerequisites required; accessible for healthcare staff and general public
- Physical ability to kneel and perform continuous chest compressions
Instructor
Marcus Sterling, EMT-P, BSN
Lead Emergency Medical Educator • BSN, Paramedic, AHA BLS/ACLS Certified Instructor
14 years of front-line paramedic emergency response and veteran resuscitation trainer for Maryland regional hospitals.