Frequently Asked Questions

A: If you're not a healthcare professional but need CPR, AED, and First Aid training for your job, the Health Safety Institute (HSI) course is an excellent option. These courses are designed to meet workplace and regulatory requirements and are ideal for individuals in non-clinical roles who still need to be prepared for emergencies. At CPR Basic Training, our staff are qualified instructors for HSI. We offer a full range of HSI training programs, including CPR, AED, First Aid, and more advanced certifications like Basic Life Support (BLS). For added flexibility, these courses are available in a blended learning format—allowing you to complete the online portion at your own pace, followed by a hands-on skills session with a certified instructor.

A: Yes, it's possible to arrange on-site training. Basic Training LLC is an independent business authorized to provide courses from the American Heart Association (AHA), Health & Safety Institute (HSI), and the American Red Cross. We offer CPR, First Aid, and advanced cardiovascular care training using current, up-to-date materials and guidelines. To find out if an instructor can come to your office, home, or another location for on-site training, please contact us directly. Call us at 458-243-4646 for more information and scheduling options.

A: No, the American Heart Association states that each student must have his or her own current and appropriate manual or workbook readily available for use before, during, and after the course. The AHA owns the copyrights to AHA textbooks, manuals, and other CPR, First Aid, and advanced cardiovascular care training materials. These materials may not be copied, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the AHA. To request permission to reprint, copy, or use portions of CPR, first aid, and advanced cardiovascular care materials, submit a written request to the AHA at copyright.heart.org.

A: If you're not a healthcare professional but need CPR and AED training for work, the Heartsaver® CPR AED course is likely the best fit for you. This course is designed for individuals in workplace and community settings who want to be prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies. We offer Heartsaver CPR AED in a blended learning format, which includes an online portion followed by a hands-on skills session with an instructor to ensure you're confident in performing CPR and using an AED. To determine the right course for your needs, it’s always a good idea to check with your employer to confirm which certification is required.

A: Our CPR and First Aid courses include hands-on practice sessions, so it’s best to wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. If you have long hair, we recommend wearing it tied back to keep it out of the way during training.

A: First, ask your Training Center, CPR Basic Training (TC). The TC may offer the course materials to you as part of the overall course. The TC may also direct you to purchase training materials through the AHA directly.

A: If you're looking for a general CPR course to help you be prepared to save the life of a loved one, the Family Friends® CPR course is a great choice. This course provides basic CPR training for adults, children, and infants in a relaxed, group setting. It uses the research-proven practice-while-watching method, which allows participants to learn CPR skills by watching a video and practicing with a manikin—making it ideal for families, caregivers, and anyone who wants to be ready in case of an emergency. No certification is required or provided, making it perfect for those who want the knowledge and confidence to help a loved one, without the need for a formal credential.

A: Yes, there can be differences in BLS CPR certification depending on the provider and the requirements of the organization or employer. The American Heart Association (AHA), Health and Safety Institute (HSI), and the American Red Cross are widely recognized organizations that offer BLS CPR training and certification. These organizations provide comprehensive training programs that follow current industry standards and guidelines. Many healthcare facilities, schools for healthcare professions, and first responder agencies specifically require BLS certification from the American Heart Association (AHA). However, some may also accept certification from the Health and Safety Institute (HSI) or the American Red Cross, depending on their policies. It’s important to check with your employer, school, or affiliated organization to determine which BLS CPR certification providers are accepted and whether there are any additional requirements.

A: First responders or professional rescuers—such as firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel—typically need to complete a Basic Life Support (BLS) course. These individuals often operate in prehospital settings where advanced resuscitation skills are essential. The American Heart Association (AHA) BLS course is commonly required, as it is widely recognized and accepted in healthcare and emergency response fields. Some agencies may also accept American Red Cross BLS certification, depending on their specific guidelines. It’s important to check with your employer, licensing authority, or certifying agency to confirm which BLS provider and course version they require for your role.

A: AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training is included in all CPR courses because it significantly increases a victim’s chance of survival during cardiac arrest. According to the official American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC), the combination of high- quality CPR and early use of an AED is one of the most effective ways to improve survival outcomes.

A: Daycare providers should take the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED course. This course is specifically designed to meet regulatory requirements for childcare workers in all 50 states. The AHA offers the course in both classroom-based and blended learning formats, giving you the flexibility to complete part of the training online and then attend an in-person skills session with an instructor. This course covers essential skills for responding to illnesses and injuries in children and infants, making it ideal for anyone working in childcare settings such as daycares, preschools, and early education centers.

A: Yes, we offer courses in Spanish. If you need a course in a language other than Spanish, you can visit the American Heart Association (AHA) website to locate a nearby Training Center that may offer courses in your preferred language.

A: No, first aid is not included in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) courses. BLS is designed specifically for healthcare professionals and focuses on high-quality CPR, AED use, and advanced resuscitation skills—not first aid. If you need training to respond to first aid emergencies, the AHA offers several other courses tailored to those needs, including: Heartsaver® First Aid Heartsaver® First Aid CPR AED Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED These courses are ideal for individuals in workplace, school, or community settings who need comprehensive CPR and first aid training.

A: AHA requires Training Centers to issue course completion cards within 20 days of successful course completion. At CPR Basic Training, we try to have your card issued to you within 24 hours for HIS and AHA. Most of the time, it will be issued within hours. CPR Basic Training asks their students to contact them if they have not received their email from AHA or HIS so they can assist with getting your card issued.

A: Yes.

A: The front of the card will provide you with the issue date and eCard Code number (all cards are valid for 2 years). The issuing Training Center’s information can be found on the back of the card. To check the validity of an AHA course completion card, you can contact basictrainingllc@gmail.com for assistance or use the American Heart Association website verification tool.

A: Before reaching out to your Training Center to request a new card, first try to run a few searches in your email inbox to make sure you didn’t overlook the email with the link to access your eCard. Search and make sure you don't have any emails from: No-eccreply@heart.org or eCards@heart.org. It's possible that the email would have come directly from the Training Center's email. Run a search with the name of basictrainingllc@gmail.com. See information on how to find your lost card here.

A: Yes, AHA course completion cards are accepted in all US states.

A: The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) works closely with the AHA. The HSFC provider card is recognized by the AHA and can be used for admission to an AHA provider course (renewal or update) or Instructor course in the same discipline. The HSFC Instructor card is recognized by AHA Training Centers the same way as an instructor card issued by an AHA Training Center. We suggest that you show your employer the AHA Course Card Reference Guide to see pictures of HSFC cards and read about our relationship.

A: You can go to CPR Basic Training web page and select a course or contact basictrainingllc@gmail.com to inquire about your options for renewing your course completion card. We will also be able to answer questions about class availability and cost.

A: Course completion cards are valid for two years through the end of the month during which the course completion card was issued. For more information, please refer to the Course Card Reference Guide. If you can't remember your Training Center or Instructor's information, visit our Lost Your AHA Completion Card page for more information.

A: Yes, BLS Instructors are authorized to teach all Heartsaver-level courses, including Heartsaver First Aid, Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, and Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED. Instructors must have a copy of the appropriate Instructor manual for the course that they are teaching. It is also highly recommended that BLS Instructors review a copy of the student workbook for each course prior to teaching the course.

A: The AHA requires that instructors be at least 18 years of age to teach Heartsaver and BLS courses. ACLS, PALS, and PEARS Instructors must be at least 18 years of age and licensed or certified in a healthcare occupation where the skills are within the provider’s scope of practice.

A: No, the AHA does not certify people in CPR, first aid, or advanced cardiovascular life support skills; the AHA verifies that, at the time a person successfully completed training, he or she was able to perform skills satisfactorily.

A: Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by bystanders who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an “out-of-hospital” setting (such as at home, at work, or in a park). It consists of two easy steps: 1. Call 9-1-1 (or send someone to do that). 2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 pushes per minute. The AHA recommends that healthcare providers use conventional CPR with a combination of breaths and compressions. Conventional CPR should also be used for: All infants (up to age 1) Children (up to puberty) Anyone found already unconscious and not breathing normally Any victims of drowning, drug overdose, collapse due to breathing problems, or prolonged cardiac arrest. Learn more about Hands-Only CPR.

A: When you perform CPR in an emergency, many places have Good Samaritan laws that protect you from legal liability as long as you act in good faith and within the scope of your training. These laws are designed to encourage bystanders to help without fear of being sued if unintended harm occurs while trying to save a life. To be protected, it’s important to: Act without expectation of compensation Provide care to the best of your ability using your training Avoid gross negligence or reckless behavior Additionally, taking a certified CPR course helps ensure you are trained to provide care safely and effectively, which further supports your protection under the law. If you are unsure about local regulations, it can be helpful to check the specific Good Samaritan laws in your state or country.

A: The AHA does not endorse "cough CPR," a coughing procedure widely publicized on the Internet. As noted in the AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC, “cough CPR” is not useful for unresponsive victims and should not be taught to lay rescuers. For more information, see the Cough CPR information page on Heart.org.