Heartsaver® Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 (90-1434)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As of March 25, 2014
General Information:
Q:
What is Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
A:
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 is a Web-based, self-directed program that uses
case-based scenarios and interactive lessons to teach child care providers and others to respond to
and manage illnesses and injuries in a child or infant in the first few minutes until professional help
arrives.
Successful completion of the full Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Course includes three parts:
• Part 1, Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1. Upon successful completion of
the online portion, students receive a Part 1 certificate of completion, which must be printed
and presented for parts 2 and 3.
• Part 2, a hands-on skills practice session with an authorized AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) or
Heartsaver Instructor
• Part 3, a skills test with an authorized AHA BLS or Heartsaver Instructor
Upon successful completion of all three parts, students will receive an AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First
Aid CPR AED course completion card, valid for two years.
Q:
A:
What content is taught in Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
This program covers the Four Steps of First Aid (Prevent, Be Safe, Phone 911, Act) and pediatric first aid
skills such as finding the problem, stopping bleeding, bandaging and using an Epinephrine pen, as well
as child CPR AED and infant CPR. Optional modules in adult CPR AED, child mask, infant mask and
Asthma Care Training for Child Care Providers are also available.
Course content reflects science in the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, including the 2010 AHA and
American Red Cross Guidelines for First Aid.
Q:
A:
Who is the target audience for Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
The primary audience for this course is child care providers, child/day care workers,
parents/grandparents, nannies and babysitters who need a course completion card to meet job or
regulatory requirements and who prefer online/blended learning as an alternative to classroom-based
training. This course is also appropriate for educators, teachers and the general public.
Q:
A:
What is the format of this program?
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 presents cognitive information through
interactive content, exercises and videos. Upon successful completion of Part 1, a Part 1 certificate of
completion is available for students to print. This certificate must be presented for Parts 2 and 3, the
hands-on skills practice and skills testing session with an AHA BLS or Heartsaver Instructor. Upon
successful completion of all three parts, students receive an AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR
AED course completion card, valid for two years.
Q:
A:
What are some of the unique features of Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
Course features include:
• Interactive exercises and videos
• Certificate of completion available to print when Part 1 has been completed successfully
• Online access to portions of the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Student Workbook
• A transcript option to help meet diverse learning needs
• Printable Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Quick Reference Guide
•
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Online access to several AHA resources to aid in learning, such as skills summary sheets, job aids
(action plans, checklists and informational sheets) and videos
Students have access to all information in the online course for 24 months following activation of
their course key
Q:
A:
Approximately how long does this program take to complete?
Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete. Time to
complete Parts 2 and 3 varies depending on the student.
Q:
Does successful completion of Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 result in receipt of
an AHA course completion card?
Upon successful completion of all three parts, students will receive a Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid
CPR AED course completion card, valid for two years.
A:
Q:
A:
Which skills do students practice during the skills practice and testing session (Parts 2 and 3)? On
which skills are students tested?
Students practice and are tested on the following skills during the skills practice and testing session:
First aid skills:
• Taking off gloves
• Finding the problem
• Using an epinephrine pen
• Stopping bleeding
CPR and AED skills:
• Giving CPR to a child and an infant (giving CPR to an adult and using a mask are also practiced and
tested if the optional Adult CPR module is taught)
• Using an AED on a child (using an AED on an adult is also practiced and tested if the optional Adult
CPR module is taught)
Q:
A:
Is there a written test that must be completed for Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
No, this program, like all Heartsaver programs, does not include a written test. This program does include
review questions at the end of each section, but these questions are not test questions.
The AHA does not mandate completion of a written test for Heartsaver courses; however, an optional
written test has been developed for Instructors to administer to students whose employers require
completion of a written test. This test can be obtained by Training Center Coordinators, upon request,
from the AHA Customer Support Center (888-CPR-LINE/888-277-5463).
Instructors who need to issue the Heartsaver optional written test should issue it to students during the
in-person skills practice and testing session (Parts 2 and 3).
Q:
A:
Does Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 offer continuing education (CE)?
Yes, the following CE credit is available for successful completion of this online program:
Continuing Education (CE) Information:
The American Heart Association has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the
International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow
Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102; (703)506-3275. In obtaining this approval, the American
Heart Association has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is
recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of their Authorized Provider
accreditation status, the American Heart Association is authorized to offer IACET CEUs for its programs
that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard.
The American Heart Association is authorized by IACET to offer 0.4 CEUs for this program.
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Q:
A:
After completion of the online program, how long do students have to complete the skills session?
Students are allowed up to 60 days after the completion of the online part of the course to complete the
skills session.
Q:
A:
Can a student log in and out of the course?
Yes. Students can log in and out as many times as they choose. To log out, students must click the "Click
here to logout" link located at the top of the page after login. When the student is ready to continue
training, he/she can return to OnlineAHA.org and login with his/her registered email and password.
Q:
A:
Can course material be accessed after the online portion is completed?
Yes, students may access all material included in the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1
program for 24 months following initial activation of their course key.
Information for AHA Instructors
Q:
Who can conduct skills sessions for Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
A:
The skills practice and testing session (Parts 2 and 3) may be conducted by an authorized AHA BLS or
Heartsaver Instructor.
Q:
A:
What materials do Instructors need to conduct the skills practice and testing session for this program?
To conduct a skills practice and testing session for Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1,
the Instructor must have the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Instructor Manual and accompanying
Instructor CD. Also, Instructors should use the Heartsaver Practice and Testing (P&T) Lesson Maps,
located on the AHA Instructor Network at Courses>Heartsaver>Heartsaver eLearning Courses>Heartsaver
Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1, under the Course Resources tab.
Q:
A:
How can Instructors verify the authenticity of Part 1 certificates of completion for this program?
Instructors can verify certificates at OnlineAHA.org under the “Skills Session” tab on the home page.
First Aid Questions (from the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Instructor CD)
Questions a Student Might Ask
Q:
Why does the tongue swell in a severe allergic reaction?
A:
An allergic reaction causes the release of chemical mediators (such as histamines) in the body. If the
person experiences a severe allergic reaction, he may experience symptoms such as swelling (edema) of
the tongue. Swelling of the face, neck, or tongue can block the airway and make it difficult to breathe.
Q:
A:
Why is it OK to do a head tilt–chin lift on a person who may have a head, neck, or spine injury?
Someone who isn’t breathing won’t survive if you don’t give him breaths. There are other methods of
opening the airway, but they also may move the head, neck, or spine, and the other methods may not be
as successful for opening the airway.
Q:
A:
Why don’t you give anything by mouth to a person with diabetes who isn’t responding?
If the person isn’t responding, she may choke.
Q:
A:
Why do you put a knocked-out tooth in milk?
Milk is free of harmful bacteria and keeps the tooth moist. Some studies indicate that milk may be a
better liquid for storing a knocked-out tooth than salt water or fresh water.
Q:
A:
Why is it best to have non-latex gloves in the first aid kit?
Some people are very allergic to latex. Some people don’t know they are allergic to latex. Just putting on
gloves releases latex into the air.
Q:
A:
Suppose I don’t get any blood or body fluids on my gloves. Can I reuse them?
No. You may not see any blood or body fluids on the gloves. However, some may still be there. Remove
and dispose of the gloves properly.
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Q:
A:
How do I know whether bleeding is major or minor?
The most important action for bleeding you can see is to stop the bleeding with pressure. If you see a lot
of blood (a major cut), use pressure to stop the bleeding. If the cut is not bleeding or is a small abrasion,
assume the cut is minor. Wash a minor cut with soap and water before applying a bandage.
Q:
A:
Isn’t it potentially dangerous to submerge a person up to the neck after he has had a heat stroke?
Science has shown that the quickest way to cool a person with heat stroke down is to submerge him up to
the neck. If you can’t do this or it appears to be dangerous (for example, if you are a small person unable
to move a larger person into water), use a cool water spray. Cool water is better than ice-cold water.
Q:
A:
Why aren’t all the topics in the workbook covered in the DVD?
Because there is limited space on the DVD and limited time in the classroom, the educational and science
experts on our team had to decide which topics needed to be in the video and which could be only in the
workbook. A few topics didn’t need video to effectively teach actions. Those topics are included only in
the workbook.
CPR Questions (from the Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Instructor CD)
Questions an Instructor Might Ask
Q:
Why do the courses teach compressions and breaths first?
A:
Compressions are the most important skill of CPR. Studies have shown that students mastered CPR skills
best when they began by practicing compressions and breaths, then the other skills, and then put it all
together.
Q:
A:
Why don’t the lay rescuer courses teach jaw thrusts?
It’s difficult for lay rescuers to open the airway with a jaw thrust. To make sure that the lay rescuer can
open the airway, only head tilt–chin lift is taught. In addition, all methods of opening the airway can
produce movement of an injured spine, so the jaw thrust may not be any safer than head tilt–chin lift.
Q:
A:
Why is the ratio 3 students to 1 manikin?
The 3:1 ratio is used to optimize the amount of time each student practices with a manikin while also
keeping the course length reasonable.
Q:
A:
Why don’t the lay courses teach students to reassess the victim’s breathing?
Compressions are at the core of good CPR. Every time compressions are interrupted, the first few
compressions are not as effective as later compressions. The more often the compressions are
interrupted, the lower the victim’s chance of survival.
Questions a Student Might Ask
Q:
Why don’t we teach AED for infants?
A:
Cardiac arrest in infants is most often caused by a problem with breathing that worsens over a short
period of time. This means that an AED is less likely to be effective in infants compared with adults. Also,
the 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC recommend a more advanced defibrillator than an AED. This
more advanced defibrillator is taught in other more advanced courses. Although an AED could be used for
an infant, the science experts were concerned about adding another level of knowledge to this course
because infant cardiac arrest is fairly uncommon and because the AED is much less likely to be needed.
For these reasons, this topic is best left for more advanced courses.
Q:
A:
Why isn’t there choking practice?
Actions to assist a person who is choking cannot be safely performed on other students in the classroom.
Unfortunately, most manikins used in the classroom are not suitable for effective practice. Although we
have included the choking practice before, it likely does not prepare people for a choking emergency
because it cannot be practiced correctly in the classroom. Rather than practice potentially incorrect
techniques such as inadequate abdominal thrusts and to avoid risk of harm to other students, the choking
practice was removed from the course.
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Q:
A:
Why don’t we practice more with the AED?
The AED is easy to use. AED prompts are clear and students should follow them. There isn’t a lot to teach.
Plus, each AED has slightly different prompts, pad design, and basic operation. Fortunately, the prompts
of any AED are sufficient to guide the user toward using it correctly. Students should use the AED as soon
as it arrives. Students must know how to turn the AED on. That’s why in the CPR test we ask students to
turn the AED on. Once the AED is on, all the user needs to know is that the prompts must be followed. We
show a complete AED demonstration in the video so students can see exactly how the sequence works,
and the first time students practice with an AED, they practice all the way up to giving a shock. Because
the most important parts of AED use are using it quickly and turning it on (so the prompts start), those are
the parts we test.
Q:
A:
Is there a specific place to tap a person when checking for a response?
It doesn’t matter where the person is tapped. For consistency, we teach tapping the shoulder in adults
and children and tapping the foot in infant CPR.
Q:
A:
Why are manikin shirts required?
Moving clothes out of the way is an essential part of CPR. Students need to practice moving clothes out of
the way.
Q:
A:
Can I get into legal trouble if I don’t do CPR correctly?
Do CPR to the best of your ability. As long as you are trying to do the right thing and you are not trying to
hurt the victim, Good Samaritan laws will protect you in most states.
Q:
A:
I am afraid to give breaths without a mask. Should I just do nothing if I don’t have a mask?
You might carry a mask with you. Some masks fold up very small and fit on a key ring. If your job requires
you to use a mask and you don’t have one, do compressions until someone with a mask arrives.
Compressions alone are better than doing nothing.
Q:
A:
Can I catch a disease such as hepatitis or AIDS by doing CPR?
CPR has been performed for 35 years and there has never been a case of transmission of these diseases
from victim to rescuer.
Q:
A:
When should I stop CPR?
Stop when
• The person starts to move
• Someone with more advanced training arrives and takes over
• You are too exhausted to continue or it is dangerous for you to continue, such as during an airplane
landing (resume as soon as you can unfasten your seatbelt)
Q:
A:
How do I give CPR to someone with an opening in the neck?
Some people have an opening that connects the airway directly to the skin. This is called a stoma. If the
person needs breaths, give them directly into the stoma.
Q:
A:
If I find a person on a bed, should I move her to the floor so that I have a hard surface under her back?
If you can, quickly move the person to a firm surface to give CPR. Make sure you support the head and
neck. If you are alone and can’t move the person, try to find something flat and firm. Slide it under the
back to provide a firm surface.
Q:
A:
What should I do if the person has dentures?
Leave them in place if possible. If they get in the way of creating an airtight seal, move them.
Q:
A:
Does the AHA endorse “cough CPR”?
No. “Cough CPR” doesn’t work if the person doesn’t respond. If you think you or someone else is having a
serious medical emergency, phone your emergency response number (or 911).
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Q:
Why don’t we do a pulse check?
A:
Even some healthcare providers have a hard time telling if there is a pulse within 10 seconds. It is better
to give CPR to a person who has a pulse than to not give CPR to someone who needs it.
Q:
A:
What should I do if the person vomits?
1. Turn the person’s head to the side so the person doesn’t choke.
2. Clear the mouth by sweeping it with a cloth or other material wrapped around your fingers.
3. Reposition the person and resume CPR.
Q:
A:
If I am choking and alone, what should I do?
Although there is no science to support this recommendation, a person who is alone and choking may be
able to give abdominal thrusts to himself over a hard object such as the back of a chair.
Purchasing Materials/Finding Skills Sessions:
Q:
Where/how can I purchase Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1?
A:
This program, product #90-1434, can be purchased on OnlineAHA.org or from any of AHA’s three product
Distributors (Channing Bete, Laerdal or World Point).
Q:
A:
How should students or employers schedule a skills session?
To find a Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED skills session, students can use the Find a Course tool at
www.heart.org/cpr.
If an employer provides course keys to employees, the employer should provide students with
information about skills sessions. Regular sessions may be scheduled by Training Centers to provide skills
sessions for the students they provide keys for and to accommodate the single user who has purchased a
key online. Training Centers may charge a fee for conducting sessions and issuing cards. For a list of local
Training Centers, visit www.heart.org and click “Find a Course.”
Translations:
Q:
Will Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 be translated? Into what languages? When will
translated editions be available?
A:
Currently, there are no translations planned for this program.
Technical Issues:
Q:
Who should I contact if I have problems with Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Part 1?
A:
For problems with these programs, contact OnlineAHA.org technical support at 888.AHA.8883 or via email
at help@onlineaha.org. Customer support is available 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday –
Friday.
Q:
A:
Does Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED Online Part 1 require special computer or support
software?
OnlineAHA.org recommends using the following setting to maximize your eLearning experience. In
addition, student and administrator hardware should be the recommended requirements.
Flash Option
• Device: PC/Mac
• OS: Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7, Mac OS 10.6
• Processor: 1GHz
• RAM: 1 GB RAM
• Connectivity: 512 Kbps+
• Plug-ins: Flash 10.1 player
• Browser: IE 8, Safari
• Resolution: 1024x768
• Course Dimensions: 1010x660
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