All legitimate training centers offer CPR/AED and First Aid certification courses based on current research, findings and guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA). Beyond that, it’s up to the individual certification organizations to decide how to present that material.
In our opinion, while the American Heart Association offers fine classes, those people (health and safety professionals, as well as members of the general public) who choose American Red Cross (ARC) classes do so because American Red Cross classes are more in-depth.
In general, AHA classes are shorter. And, for many people and organizations, that’s a good thing. But what’s your ultimate goal in taking CPR, AED and First Aid training, saving time or saving lives?
Think about it in this way: If you needed emergency medical assistance, who would you want to help you? Someone who took a fast course or someone who took a more thorough and more comprehensive course? The answer is obvious.
Choose excellence over expedience. Choose American Red Cross!
If you’ve taken an American Heart Association life-saving class in the past, here are the general American Red Cross certification equivalents:
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AHA: “Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers”
ARC: “CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers”
ARC: “CPR/AED for Lifeguards”
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AHA: ”Heartsaver CPR AED”
AHA: “Family & Friends CPR” (non-certification class)
ARC: ”CPR/AED-Adult,” “CPR/AED-Pediatric” (“CPR/AED-Child” + “CPR-Infant”), or a combo
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AHA: ”Heartsaver First Aid”
ARC: “First Aid”
