IU-EMS - First Aid, CPR, and AED Courses

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First Aid, CPR, and AED Courses

First Aid, CPR, and AED training are some of the most basic, and most valuable, forms of emergency training. It is generally believed that as many members of the community should be trained in these areas as possible. Therefore, all members of the general public are encouraged to take these courses. IU-EMS and other agencies offer frequent first aid, CPR, and AED courses open to the general public. The courses are natural complements to each other, and are often combined. Select one of the following topics to learn more:

First Aid

First aid is the most basic type of emergency training a person can receive, and is often utilized in people's

everyday lives for minor illnesses and injuries. Basic first aid skills include stopping bleeding, bandaging

wounds, and splinting broken bones and sprained joints. First aid is a skill that a person will be able to use

in a wide variety of situations throughout his or her entire life.

CPR

CPR stands for "cardiopulmonary resuscitation." This is a medical term that means "reviving a person's

heart and lung activity." It is a basic procedure that is performed on a person who is not breathing, with or

without a pulse. To be more specific, if a person is simply not breathing (respiratory arrest), then rescue

breathing is performed, also known as "mouth-to-mouth," in which the rescuer breaths into the patient's lungs

to provide them with oxygen. Furthermore, if the person also lacks a pulse (cardiac arrest), then chest

compressions are also used with the rescue breathing to pump the person's heart for them. While this

procedure rarely revives a person by itself, it is vital in order to "keep the person alive" until professional

medical care can be rendered. It has been proven to be a lifesaving skill over and over, even here at IU (see

success stories)! Appropriate CPR and AED administration (see below) can increase a person's chance of

survival by as many as 30 times!*

AED

AED stands for "automated external defibrillator." It is a small machine that

shocks a person's heart if they are in certain kinds of cardiac arrest (without a

pulse), attempting to provoke it to resume beating. It is the single most important

procedure for reviving a person whose heart has stopped beating. The modern

AED is the successor of the electric "paddles" that used to be used in emergency

rooms and on ambulances, and are now widely available in public places for any

appropriately trained person to administer in case of an emergency. It has proven

to be a lifesaving device over and over, even here at IU (see success stories)!

Combined with appropriate CPR (see above), AED administration can increase a

person's chance of survival by as many as 30 times!*

Course Material

Course students learn the following skills:

Assessing an emergency situation and deciding what care needs to be given.
Checking to determine a person's consciousness, breathing, and pulse.
Taking appropriate precautions for a broken spine.
Stopping or decreasing bleeding.
Bandaging wounds.
Splinting broken bones and sprained joints.
Treating insect and bites and stings.
Treating burns.
Treating hyperthermia, hypothermia, and frostbite.
Providing rescue breathing.
Providing chest compressions.
Providing abdominal thrusts to help a choking person (called the "Heimlich Maneuver")
Applying and administering an AED.

Success Stories

CPR and AEDs have saved millions of lives over the years. The following IDS (Indiana Daily Student) and

other stories detail only a few of the several times that CPR and/or AEDs have been credited with saving a

person's life right here at IU. All links open in a new window except those indicated with an asterisk (*).

In Brief

► "CPR is available to all of us. It seems so insignificant until you need it. And if you don't have

the skills, you don't get a second chance." Read Story*

► "These students then go out into the community, and we have that many

more lifesavers." Read Story*

► "The paramedics credited him with saving the infant's life." Read Story*

► "There's no doubt in my mind that if Taylor had not taken that course, Matthew would

have died." Read Story*

By Date

06/19/07: IUPD Officers, Monroe Deputy Receive Award For Life-Saving Incident
04/03/07: Defribillator Used to Revive Theta Chi Cook
06/11/06: Teen's Rescue of Choking Brother has Mom

Singing Praises of CPR (Herald-Times)*
04/12/06: Police Resuscitate IU Employee
02/07/01: Employees Honored for Saving Life
CPR by IU Official Saves Worker's Life (Herald-Times)*
Life Lesson (Herald-Times)*

Course Offerings

The following are the most prominent opportunities for IU students and staff, and local residents, to take

a first aid, CPR, or AED administration course:

IU-EMS provides several first aid, CPR, and AED courses each year for both members and for the general public. See the below section for more information.
The university offers a semester-long first aid course, HPER-H160 (new window), which includes CPR and AED administration, as well.
The Bloomington Ivy Tech college offers two courses that include first aid, CPR, and AED administration, HHS-104 and MEA-102 (new windows).
Local chapters of the American Heart Association (new window) and the American Red Cross (new window) offer individual first aid, CPR, and AED courses.
The Monroe County YMCA (new window) offers frequent CPR courses.

Note: If you plan to take a first responder or EMT-Basic course, make sure that you register for

professional CPR and AED courses (called Healthcare Provider from the American Heart Association or

Professional Rescuer from the American Red Cross).

IU-EMS Courses

IU-EMS provides American Heart Association first aid, CPR, and AED certification for both members and

for the general public. CPR courses include AED administration, and are offered on two levels: Heartsaver

CPR courses for members of the general public and professional CPR courses for IU-EMS members and

other public safety professionals.

First aid and Heartsaver CPR courses typically last two hours, and prfoessional CPR typically lasts four

hours. Upon successful completion, students will receive American Heart Association certification which will

be valid for two years, at which point they may renew it by taking a renewal course.

The first aid course currently costs $10 per person, and each of the CPR courses currently cost $30 per

person, to cover the cost of materials and personnel. This price is much lower than the typical price, and

there may be discounts available for IU-EMS members, university employees, residence halls, student

organizations, Greek housing, or other groups. Students receive a textbook and resource CD-ROM that they

can keep if they wish to. First aid students also receive a quick reference guide.

Heartsaver First Aid First Aid Quick Reference Professional CPR

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Students will also have the opportunity to complete an American Heart Association Heartsaver course

evaluation to ensure quality. You can download a copy by clicking on the button below.

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For a schedule of available IU-EMS courses, visit the events page.

To register for a course, please e-mail us.

Links

The following links provide additional background or course information for first aid, CPR, and AED administration. All links open in a new window except the IU-EMS course schedule.

All IU students are encouraged to visit the safety section for information on campus and personal safety.

*Immediate and proper CPR and AED administration for certain types of cardiac arrest, in addition to immediate and proper exercise

of any other indicated treatment procedures, can make a person 30 times more likely to survive than if no treatment is rendered.

First Aid