Training Guidelines
American Health Association training is based upon the internationally accepted guidelines established by ILCOR*, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. The training adheres to 2020 ECC Guidelines and is based on the Consensus Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science.
*ILCOR members include the Australian Resuscitation Council, the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the European Resuscitation Council, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Inter-American Heart Foundation, the New Zealand Resuscitation Council, and the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa.
The curriculum is equivalent and follows the same guidelines taught by American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the National Safety Council.
American Health Association training adheres to OSHA regulations. Meets guidelines of the following organizations: US Dept. of Labor, American Dental Association, JCAHO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Canada OH&S, and US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
CPR Course Curriculum
Anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system
Scene Safety
Basic Life Support Perspectives
The Chain of Survival
Recognition of Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest
The CAB’S
Personal Protective Equipment
Mouth-to-Mouth Ventilation
Chest Compressions and Signs of Circulation
One-Rescuer CPR (Adult)
Two-Rescuer CPR (Adult)
One-Rescuer CPR (Child)
Two-Rescuer CPR (Child)
Compression-Only CPR
Infant CPR
Rescue Breathing
Bag-Valve-Mask Use
FBAO (choking) for adult, child, and infant
Relief of FBAO (choking) in the Responsive Patient
Comprehensive training on the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Comprehensive Written Examination
Standard First Aid Curriculum (adult and pediatric)
Recognizing an Emergency
Good Samaritan Laws
Emergency Action Steps
Preventing Disease Transmission
Brief info on Bloodborne Pathogens
Checking for Scene Safety
Checking the Victim for Consciousness
Moving a Victim
Reporting to EMS
Prioritizing Care
Caring for Shock
Bleeding and Wound Management
Burns
Poisoning and Drug Overdose
Environmental Related Illnesses
Muscle and Joint Injuries
Medical Emergencies
-general illnesses
-heart attacks
-breathing emergencies, i.e. asthma, COPD
-stroke
-diabetes
-seizures
Comprehensive Written Examination
Medical Certifying Authority
Medical & Instructional Source Authority Documentation Supporting American Health Association Training Programs. Compliance with the statutory or regulatory requirements related to the teaching of Emergency Cardiac Care, Basic First Aid and Infectious Disease Prevention center on the development of a curriculum based on the knowledge of medical and bioscience professionals. The Process of achieving this Medical knowledge is gained through research and the practice of medicine by licensed physicians, surgeons, paramedics, nurses, and other health care professionals. Knowledge gained through medical practice and research is evaluated and debated in formal and informal education settings, peer-reviewed medical journals, consensus conferences, seminars. and through other similar processes. Knowledge is investigated both privately and publicly, with regard to US effectiveness, safety, ethical character, and cost-effectiveness. Knowledge and medical practices that survive the rigors of debate and consensus-building and meet with widespread agreement among experts eventually become generally accepted within the medical community. Those concepts achieving general medical acceptance are typically published in texts and journals to be relied upon by practicing healthcare professionals. Academic universities. vocational schools and other teaming organizations like — American Health Association — develop program content based upon published medical literature and tailor training materials to meet the needs of the target audience.
Medical innovations now occur so rapidly that the medical community avoids identifying the current state of knowledge or method of practice as the standard of care. This is particularly true in the current medical liability environment. An example of the movement away from the “standard of care” concept is found in recent CPR guidelines promulgated by the American Heart Association (AHA): “The term standards has been misunderstood and has often been given legal implications it was never intended to convey. For this reason, the term has been avoided in this publication. The term “standards” has been replaced by guidelines and recommendations. Every several years, the American Heart Association sponsors a national conference designed to highlight and debate recent developments in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiac care. Resulting guidelines describe the current state of medical knowledge in the areas of CPR, Emergency Cardiac Care for the general public and healthcare professionals. Heart Associations Guidelines–as published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)–provide a readily available and identifiable source authority for emergency cardiac care training program content. This exceptional document makes it possible! for organizations like the American Health Association, American Red Cross, National Safety Council, American Safety & Health Institute, and even the American Heart Association, to develop high-quality CPR education training programs.
Unlike the realm of CPR, no single consensus document exists establishing First Aid training program guidelines. In fact, no single agency/association or regulatory body is responsible for determining appropriate First Aid treatment guidelines for the layperson. Thus, training program developers like American Health Association, American Red Cross, and the National Safety Council, must research and document appropriate source authorities supporting program content. Interestingly, many statutes and regulations specifically identify certain first aid and CPR training programs as meeting statutory or regulatory requirements. Many of these laws authorize other programs to offer first aid and CPR training if approved or deemed equivalent. However, there “exists no national consensus guidelines” against which to compare program content for purposes of approval and no measure against which to determine equivalency. Moreover, government agencies often lack the authority and expertise necessary to objectively evaluate first aid training materials submitted for review. Contrary to popular belief, the American Red Cross does not establish first aid practice or training program guidelines. All first aid training programs, including the Red Cross, must conform program content to the current state of medical knowledge as evidenced by published medical texts and journals.
Naming any single organization in statute or regulation often has the unintended consequence of discouraging enterprising approaches to first aid and CPR training and reducing the number of qualified first aid and CPR training programs available to serve the public. This practice also places the government in the position of sanctioning particular programs thus discouraging or eliminating competition. Governments acting in this capacity are put at risk without any supporting public policy rationale. The American Health Association is committed to delivering exemplary First Aid and CPR training. Furthermore, the organization promotes a standardized instructional system designed in concert with professionals. The. program development process draws upon the talent and experience of recognized experts in the field, outside consultants, and diligent medical research. To ensure that program content and medical treatment guidelines used in American Health Association programs are safe, effective and helpful, the American Health Association relies on the following body of medical knowledge: American Health Association’s CPR and Emergency Cardiac Care training adheres to guidelines established by the Emergency Cardiac Care Committee and Sub-Committees, American Heart Association. Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care, JAMA 2015. American Health Association’s Basic First Aid training follows guidelines and current medical practice established by the following medical professional organizations and education text. Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured (9th Ed). ©2009 by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). First Aid in the Workplace (2nd Ed.) ©2008 by Prentice Hall.