First of all, I love this site... kudos to the creators...

I am a licensed EMT, and need to get re-certified in everything this year, and I am having a hard time finding an American Heart Association CPR for the Professional Rescuer recertification class that is 1) within 100 miles of my home and 2) not already filled up.

My question is, what is the difference between Red Cross - CPR PRO and AHA CPR for the Professional Rescuer? Anything? The state I am licensed as an EMT through will take either certification... but I just want to know if there is any difference between the two, and also, if I'd have to take the entire Red Cross CPR-PRO class, or if I could just take the (much less expensive and shorter) refresher class, since I don't hold certification through the Red Cross, just American Heart.

Any help would be appreciated! I keep playing phone tag with the folks that could answer my questions... so if anyone here knows... that would be great.

Thanks

Here in Tennessee I called my local fire department, they offered the BLS for healthcare providers (American Heart Association) as well as the CPR for the Professional Rescuer (American Red Cross). I will be taking my class for AHA on August 5 for that certification and on August 12 I will be taking the CPR.

I don't know if WI offers it through local fire departments, but it is worth a try. You may also call your local hospital.

AY! I can barely get the names right. You are correct AHA is BLS for healthcare providers, and the Red Cross is CPR for the professional rescuer. Since posting the original question last night, I found out the main difference is AHA is good for 2 years, and the Red Cross is only good for a year, so most health care providers go with AHA.

Thanks for the input on calling the fire departments, so far I have only tried the hospitals listed on the local AHA website... and they are all full due to training the hospital staff first. I also need the refresher, not the full course, but I may just have to take the full course again, those classes have openings...

Thanks for your input:)

Kt

Hey, I just guessed and called my local hospitals and local fire departments. Since many EMTs work through fire departments I figured they would get their training at their place of work.

I live in a very small rural community north of Memphis and would have to drive a distance also.

Good luck calling, let me know what you hear!

Oh, yeah, I learned in Nursing Orientation, that the website is not always up to date and it is best to call your local hospital. They have to have their employees up-to-date on their licenses also, so most of them provide the training.

Make sure that the class you take is for the new guidelines. 30 compressions instead of 15. It would be a bummer to get recert for the old guidelines and have to cert all over again under the new one.
Welcome to the forum fellow Lifesaver :)
Also. Check with your state board. In Wyoming they will ONLY accept AHA for healthcare providers.

Thanks, great advice! I heard about the guidelines changing... but I forgot about that until you mentioned it. I bet that is why all the recert classes are filled too...

Infant Heimlick Maneuver procedure. A how to reference.

Well I also just wrote a side by side comparison of AHA vs Red Cross CPR training. Phew! You can check it out. I hope it helps. :)

http://www.cprcertificationonlinehq.com/difference-aha-red-cross-cpr-training-programs/