February is American Heart Month in the United States

Why do we observe American Heart Month every February?  Because heart disease is the number one cause of death for most groups, affecting all ages, genders, and ethnicities, with more than 650,000 Americans dying from it every year. 

The annual celebration began in 1963 to encourage Americans to join the battle against heart disease. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized February as the nation’s first official American Heart Month.10 days after President Lyndon’s Proclamation, Congress issued a joint resolution requesting the President to issue an annual proclamation, which has been honored annually by every sitting President since. (both presidents capitalized or none...)

In his remarks announcing February 1964 as the first American Heart Month, President Johnson urged “the people of the United States to give heed to the nationwide problem of the heart and blood-vessel diseases, and to support the programs required to bring about its solution.” Johnson’s action marked a pivotal point in the nation’s approach to addressing cardiovascular disease. From 1960 to 2010, the US population increased by more than 72 percent, yet the annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases decreased by the tens of thousands! We’ve come a long way since 1964.

In February 2022, President Biden’s proclamation unveiled a new health initiative stating, “My Administration is committed to supporting Americans in their efforts to achieve better heart health, as well as closing the racial gaps in cardiovascular disease. That is why I have asked Congress to launch a major new initiative — the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H—which would invest billions of dollars in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and other deadly diseases.  My administration is also working across Federal agencies to develop new programs to alleviate heart health disparities, including those that threaten maternal health.” 

Additionally, following tradition, President Biden’s proclamation also recognized Friday, February 4th, as National Wear Red Day to honor those we have lost to heart disease and raise awareness of the actions we can take to prevent it.  National Wear Red Day was established in 2004 as the “The Go Red for Women” campaign by the American Heart Association to raise awareness about the number 1 cause of death in women. The recognition of this day and its campaign is now part of the American Heart Month tradition.

American Heart Month brings together a wide array of public, private, and governmental organizations to shed light on how far we’ve come and the work that needs to continue. While annual deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke have declined since the inaugural American Heart Month, heart disease continues to be a public health burden and a leading cause of death for both men and women. Cardiovascular disease accounts for one of every four deaths in the United States every year, and many of these are preventable.

Often considered a condition for the older generation, heart disease and other associated illnesses are rising across all age groups. That is why American Heart Month is so important to us all. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the warning signs and symptoms and what we can do in our everyday lives to mitigate risk to our hearts.

Consider the following.

• Heart disease kills more people than all forms of cancer combined.

• Heart attacks affect more people every year than the population of Dallas, Texas.

• 83% believe heart attacks can be prevented but are not motivated to do anything.

• 72% of Americans do not consider themselves at risk for heart disease.

• 58% put no effort into improving their heart health.

Risk factors for heart disease include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use.

The good news is heart disease is preventable in most cases with healthy choices, which include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood sugar and cholesterol, treating high blood pressure, getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week, and getting regular checkups. American Heart Month is a great chance to start some heart-healthy habits!

Hospitals and health systems around the country celebrate American Hearth Month by raising awareness in their communities about heart disease. It provides a significant opportunity to emphasize sharing best practices, aligning measurements, advancing implementation strategies, and providing leadership to focus on the burden of cardiovascular disease. 

If you’re not doing so, get involved in your local community’s American Heart Month. Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and living healthy lives.

One fun way to celebrate American Heart Month is by enrolling in a lifesaving course so you can be the hero to someone who might need it! Our Basic Life Support (BLS) class provides instructions for CPR & AED (automated external defibrillator) use. Register here!

Join Damar’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge

February is American Heart Month, and this year the AHA wants everyone to ‘Be the Beat’ so every household has at least one person who knows CPR.

Resources here! Hands-Only CPR | American Heart Association CPR & First Aid

• Don’t Drop The Beat Playlist

• Learn CPR Poster

• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack Factsheet

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s tragic cardiac arrest during a game of Monday Night Football is a reminder to the world about the importance of everyone knowing CPR.

Each day, nearly 1,000 people in the U.S. die from a sudden cardiac arrest. Immediate CPR was key in Hamlin’s survival, and the Be the Beat campaign can be our response for companies and volunteers who are following his story and are looking for a way to be a part of the solution.

Join Damar’s #3forHeart CPR Challenge Damar Hamlin's #3forHeart CPR Challenge | American Heart Association

Step 1. Learn CPR As Damar knows, CPR saves lives. Join Damar in watching this short video to learn Hands-Only CPR. You can be the beat for someone you love.

Step 2. Give Donate to the American Heart Association to fund CPR education and training, and other lifesaving programs and scientific research.

Step 3: Share Challenge 3 friends by tagging them with #3forHeart on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Register for a class to learn CPR and save lives!

American Heart Association Adds New Item to Their 8 Essentials for Heart Health–Sleep

Burning the candle at both ends and getting minimal sleep used to be a source of bragging rights. Folks that slept like a baby and got 8-10 hours could have erroneously been thrown into the category of lazy. However, these individuals were smart and had better heart health than those staying up late, putting in long work hours, binging tv shows, partying, or just trying to get everything done at home and in life. This past June 2022, the American Heart Association (AHA) officially justified everyone's need to rack up the "ZZZZZZZZs" when they added a new Health Behavior to their Essentials for Health List–SLEEP!

The AHA first defined the 7 metrics for cardiovascular health in 2010 to identify the specific health behaviors and health factors that drive optimal heart and brain health. The essential components of optimal cardiovascular health are divided into health behaviors and Health Factors. 

Health Behavior:

Eat Better
Be More Active
Quit Tobacco
Manage Blood Pressure

Health Factor:

Manage Weight
Control Cholesterol
Manage Blood Sugar
Get Healthy Sleep

"The new metric of sleep duration reflects the latest research findings: sleep impacts overall health, and people who have healthier sleep patterns manage health factors such as weight, blood pressure, or risk for Type 2 diabetes more effectively," said the American Heart Association President Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., FAHA, who led the advisory writing group and is chair of the department of preventive medicine, the Eileen M. Foell Professor of Heart Research and professor of preventive medicine, medicine and pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. "In addition, advances in measuring sleep, such as with wearable devices, now offer people the ability to reliably and routinely monitor their sleep habits at home."

Specifically, the AHS recommends the following in relation to sleep duration: Sleep duration is associated with cardiovascular health. Measured by average hours of sleep per night, adults' ideal level is 7-9 hours daily. Ideal daily sleep ranges for children are 10-16 hours per 24 hours for ages 5 and younger, 9-12 hours for ages 6-12 years, and 8-10 hours for ages 13-18.

As we all know, following a heart-healthy lifestyle is something we repeatedly hear about in the news and media, from our doctors, our friends, and family, from a burgeoning Wellness industry, on grocery store packaging, and even on restaurant menus. And for a good reason, as cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and globally. According to the Association's 2022 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Update, approximately 121.5 million people in the U.S. have high blood pressure, 100 million have obesity, more than 28 million people have Type 2 diabetes, and only 1 in 4 adults reported achieving the physical activity and exercise recommended in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition. Various research studies over the past two decades indicate more than 80% of all cardiovascular events may be prevented by a healthy lifestyle and management of known cardiovascular risk factors.

So take advantage of the short winter days and long evenings and start 2023 off by committing to a good night's sleep!

Continuing Education: An ACLS Academy Founder is an Inspirational Role Model

“When Shelley dreams, she dreams big. When she has a vision, she doesn’t stop until she makes it happen. For the past three years, our three sons and I have watched Shelley grow and develop as a student, mentor, and educator. Every night has been a late night, and every semester was a grind. She balanced school, work, family, and friends. Her drive was relentless, and her pursuit of excellence was inspiring.” – Chad Lynch, Shelley’s husband and business partner.

This past November, ACLS Co-Founder, Shelley Lynch, earned the title “Dr.” as she officially became Dr. Shelley Lynch.  Dr. Lynch graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill as The Diane Kjervik, JD, RN Scholar, earning her Doctorate of Nursing Practice.  UNC–Chapel Hill’s renowned Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program prepares nurses for the highest level of professional nursing practice. With the committed mentorship of dedicated faculty, DNP graduates are equipped to transform patient care in complex healthcare settings.  Evidence-based practice, organization and systems leadership, finance, health policy, information technology, population health, patient safety, and translational research to improve health outcomes are all emphasized in this rigorous — and rewarding — course of study.

We asked Dr. Lynch some questions about her educational journey and attaining the crowning achievement as a DNP:

 1.     What is your Doctorate, and how long did the program take?

I have been in school for 25 years and since Kindergarten!

Four years for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Three years for a Master of Science in Nursing Education

Two years for a Post-Master's Certificate in Graduate Studies as a Nurse Practitioner

Three years to complete my Doctor of Nursing Practice

 2.     What motivated you to make this commitment to furthering your education?

I have a strong desire to advance clinical practice and the application of research in the clinical area. I wanted to prepare for the advancement of clinical practice, leadership positions, management of health care delivery, and provide a strong influence on health policy. I wanted to obtain the skills needed to meet the many challenges of the modern healthcare system.

 3.     Why UNC-Chapel Hill?

UNC-Chapel is a world-class program and 6th in the country for a DNP. I originally wanted to study under and learn from Dr. Jones- Cheryl B. Jones, RN, Ph.D., FAAN. She is a professor and director of the Hillman Scholars Program in Nursing Innovation and a Research Fellow at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). I found a faculty of world-class professors that motivated me to push harder and problem-solve. I’m proud to share that the chair of my research, Dr. Ashley Kellish, along with my committee members, Dr. Nancy Street and Dr. Leslie Sharpe, plan to publish my dissertation this year.  

 4.    What was your favorite class in your Doctorate Program?

I am a perfectionist when it comes to school. All of them except applied statistics! I wish I could retake a few of them to learn without the pressure of wanting an A.

One of my favorite experiences was not a class but working as a research assistant with Dr. Jones on a Pandemic Workforce Study conducted during the pandemic outbreak. We presented the research findings to the General Assembly in North Carolina. It was a life-changing moment in my academic career. 

 5.     What did you find to be the most challenging class or topic in your Doctorate Program?

Economics and Financing of Health Care Systems was my most challenging class, which is interesting because I have built companies, but learning the theories of economics was intense during my final semester. It made me even more grateful to have my co-owner and husband, with his MBA in management, to help run the companies!

 6.     Explain in layperson's terms your dissertation/capstone topic of Social Determinants of Health and what you learned.

Health is impacted by where we live, where we play, and where we work. If healthcare providers strive to improve health, we must focus on the social determinants of health (SDOH). To improve the social determinants of health, we need to start with screening for them during office or hospital visits and provide a link from patients to community services to help improve the social determinants.

 7.     What was your favorite guilty pleasure during your Doctorate journey?

Popcorn and hot sauce during writing sessions.

 8.     What are your thoughts about being the Diane Kjervik, JD, RN Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill?

I am honored and humbled—all of us nurses have some big shoes to fill with Dr. Kjervik's passing. 

9.     What was the hardest challenge of balancing school, work, family, and friends?

My husband is my rock. I don't know how he managed it all since there were times when I was disconnected entirely. When COVID hit, and I was working a 60+ hour night shift in the critical care unit, he held us all together. We are a true partnership, and success is rarely accomplished alone. I owe my success to the support of my excellent partner in life and to running this company. 

10.  Your advice to others considering a Doctorate.

 There is never a good time. A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. 

11.  What's next for you in utilizing your new Doctorate?  And are there any additional academic degrees in your future?

I have promised my friends and family that this is it. No post-doctoral studies for me in the near future. It's time to continue to lead and encourage others to lead. 

12.  Any final thoughts?

 Wahooo!!!!

(we couldn’t agree more, Shelley!)

Congratulations, Dr. Shelley Lynch. ACLS Academy is very proud of your achievement and your vision and commitment to educating others in the practice of AHA lifesaving skills. The global healthcare community has a brighter future with your vision, stewardship, and compassion.

(Don't) Be still my beating heart: The Early History of the Heart Organ & It’s Function

We all know the heart is a vital organ. If it stops functioning (such as during cardiac arrest), your body begins systematically shutting down. But did you know the history of cardiac anatomy was widely influenced by 4 intellects, some names which may be familiar and some which may not. Still, all contributed significantly to our understanding of the heart and its functions.

400-300 BC

Ancient Greeks held the heart as the center of the soul and the source of heat within the body. In the fourth century B.C., Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) believed the heart to be the most important organ in the body that controlled all others, including mental processes. Aristotle described the heart as having three chambers and being the center of vitality. According to Aristotle, the surrounding organs like the brain and lungs existed only to cool the heart.

100-300 AD

In the 2nd century AD, the prolific Greek physician Claudius Galenus, known as Galen, (129- 216 AD), contributed significantly to the anatomical and physiological knowledge of the cardiovascular system. In AD 157, at the age of 28, he was chief physician to the gladiators in Pergamon (modern day Turkey), where he watched the still-beating hearts of fighters who lay dying, their chests ripped open by their opponents' blades. Later when he moved to Rome, he became the personal physician to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Galen was the originator of the experimental method in medical investigation carrying out vivisections, (surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure) on monkeys and pigs, in order to observe the pulmonary circulation. He was the first to identify the physiological difference between veins and arteries. While Galen correctly recognized that blood passes from the right to the left side of the heart, he incorrectly decided this was accomplished through tiny pores (holes) in the septum (wall separating the two chambers of the heart), rather than through the pumping action of the heart. Galen also believed that blood formed in the liver and was circulated from there throughout the body in the veins. Many of his theories concerning the heart and blood circulation dominated European medicine for 1,500 years until they were refuted by William Harvey.

1400- 1550

For Italian Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), investigations of the human form were a lifelong interest. His diagrams and sketches of the skull, skeleton, muscles, and major organs fill countless notebooks, while his theories on how they function fill many more pages. But in his 50s, the heart appeared to be a source of interest. When Leonardo da Vinci was born (around the mid-fifteenth century), most of the understanding of the heart in Europe was derived from the works of Aristotle and Galen, who both had contradictory views. Not only was the heart's physical structure perceived to be different (some said it was a three-chambered organ), but the heart also had a spiritual role in those days, as it was believed that it was the heart that safeguarded life and carried our virtue or spiritus.

It was da Vinci who said that the heart had four chambers, two upper and two lower and that there was a functional distinction between the atria and ventricles. He also demonstrated that the heart did not draw air from the lungs. It was also da Vinci who showed that the valves of the heart were critical to its function. da Vinci also seems to have been the first to recognize that the heart is a muscle and that systole is the active phase of the pump. Leonardo da Vinci's observations about the heart can be deemed pioneering in the history of cardiology.

1550-1700

William Harvey (1578 -1657) was an English physician who was the first to recognize the full circulation of blood in the human body and to provide experiments and arguments to support this idea. Harvey taught and practiced medicine until age 40, when in 1618, he became the royal physician, serving both James I and his successor, Charles I.

Harvey was the first scholar to question traditional beliefs about the heart and its circulation dating back to Galen, 1500 years earlier. Galen's theories, widely accepted and taught in all universities as irrefutable truths up to the 17th century, postulated that blood was made in the liver from digested food.

Through his teachings and observations, Harvey developed a new theory to explain how blood flowed through the body. Before Harvey, blood was not thought to circulate in the body—it was believed to be consumed by the body at the same rate that it was produced. Theories were accepted as valid just because Aristotle and Galen said so, not because they were verified empirically. Harvey, however, refused to believe what he was taught and insisted on relying on his experimental observations. Harvey applied rigorous standards to his research and only accepted conclusions as proven when they were based on evidence from repeated experiments. He collected data from phlebotomies and conducted thorough research, including numerous dissections of human beings and as many as 40 animal species. Analyzing all the experimental results and data, Harvey compiled and published his theories in 1628, leading to a huge milestone in understanding the body and blood circulation.

Harvey's approach to this discovery was genuinely revolutionary in the 17th century, and his promotion of critical thinking and experimental testing of ideas was a groundbreaking contribution to science.

CPR: A Life Skill Everyone Should Learn

Learn CPR and be in a position to jump into action with this important lifesaving skill. CPR is an acronym for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. CPR is critical in instances where a person's heart stops beating or they stop breathing. Rapid chest compressions mimic the heart beating to encourage blood flow, which can help the victim until additional help arrives.

Being CPR trained means you know how to quickly and properly administer CPR. This can mean life or death for someone in medical distress. Those responsible for children, the elderly , or anyone not fully capable of taking care of themselves should consider CPR training and anyone in a position that requires them to be around the water, live electrical lines or do other dangerous activities regularly.

If you are not convinced yet, here are some additional reasons to ponder:

1. CPR Saves Lives

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to people at any time or place. Victims of SCA must be treated immediately. If CPR is performed immediately, it can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

2. CPR Makes Home Safer for Everyone

Cardiac Arrests Often Happen at Home. About 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals each year—and about 7 in 10 of those happen at home. Learning CPR can empower you to take action and provide aid when and where a loved one needs it most. 

3. Effective Handling of Emergency Situations

It's natural to panic in emergency situations; however, every minute counts in an emergency. Knowing how to recognize possible symptoms of a heart attack or cardiac arrest that could eventually spin out of control enables you to respond quickly. Many of these possible warning signs are highlighted in our CPR-training course. 

4. CPR Protects from Brain Death

During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs. As a result of a decrease in blood flow to the brain, a victim will fall unconscious. The brain can suffer damage in as few as three minutes without proper blood flow. After nine minutes without blood flow to the brain, there can be irreversible damage. CPR helps to keep blood flowing and may help minimize the damage to the victim.

5. Faster Recovery for the Victim

CPR can help restore breathing and blood flow, aiding in the person's recovery. When a person suffers SCA and receives early CPR, they have a higher survival and recovery rate. Sometimes, the victim may return to life with minimal side effects after receiving high-quality CPR.

6. Quick and Easy to learn

Some things may be a struggle, but CPR, like other physical skills, can be easily mastered with sufficient hands-on training and practice. CPR courses can take anywhere from 2-4 hours long in duration. The steps are fairly simple, and in our hands-on Skills Training class, you'll use a CPR training mannequin to learn exactly where and how hard you need to press to provide effective chest compressions.   For those who are reluctant to learn CPR for fear of "doing it wrong" or causing physical harm to the victim, remember that CPR is designed for someone who isn't breathing and doesn't have a heartbeat. They are clinically dead. You cannot make their condition worse. As a bystander, the only wrong thing you could do is nothing at all. We strongly doubt anything you can learn in about 2-4 hours is as effective as this.

7. A Skill You'll Want To Know, But Hopefully Never Need to Use

Unlike useless high-school and maybe college skills you never once used outside the classroom, CPR can be used everywhere and anywhere. If you face a stressful situation, let it be one you know you can handle and not something you wish you could have.   

ACLS Academy CPR Heartsaver Courses

At ACLS Academy, we have 3 different variations of Heartsaver CPR courses:  1) HEARTSAVER CPR/AED/FIRST AID, 2) HEARTSAVER CPR/AED, OR 3) PEDIATRIC CPR/AED/FIRST AID

American Heart Association Heartsaver courses are designed to prepare non-healthcare providers for the ability to effectively administer CPR, including the use of AEDs for adult, child, and/ or infant responses. These courses are typically required for lifeguards, physical trainers, restaurant workers, coaches, and similar groups. In addition to CPR & AED use, the Heartsaver course offers an additional, supplemental First Aid training component which can be done as a stand-alone course or as an add-on to the CPR & AED training.

Our Heartsaver course covers the following:

• Responding to and managing illnesses and injuries in adults, children, and infants.

• First aid basics for common first aid emergencies.

• How to perform lifesaving skills. 

• How to recognize cardiac arrest and what to do until EMS arrives.

Our Heartsaver Blended Learning courses include an online portion and a hands-on skills session. The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace, either at work, at home, or wherever you have Internet access. The hands-on portion includes a skills practice and testing session conducted in person with an AHA Instructor. The skills session can take approximately 1-2 hours. 

Sign up here for ACLS Academy's Heartsaver courses, or contact us for questions or additional information.

The Alphabet Soup of Emergency Heart Resuscitation: What are CPR, AED, and BLS?

What are CPR, AED, and BLS?

We often receive questions about the differences between CPR/AED and BLS courses and certifications. While they are similar, nuances define what type of students should take these classes and the content of the courses. Let's start by defining each of these and then better understand their differences and similarities.

Most of us are familiar with the term CPR, which stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and is an emergency procedure used if a person's heart stops beating or breathing ceases. In essence, CPR is a manual heartbeat. CPR combines chest compressions and artificial ventilation (breathing) to save a person's life. By performing chest compressions, you are manually pumping the blood to a person's vital organs, and by including breaths in the CPR process, you are oxygenating their blood. CPR is a process. It consists of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths on a repeated cycle. When performed right away, it can increase a person's chances of survival after cardiac arrest.

While CPR may be more widely known, an AED, which stands for an automated external defibrillator, is just as important in lifesaving and can be used alongside CPR to resuscitate the individual. An AED is a portable device that provides electric shocks that can restart the heart. CPR alone is unlikely to restart a heart, but when CPR is used with an AED, a person's chance of survival increases significantly. At the same time, CPR and an AED are not the same; they go hand-and-in-hand when saving someone's life. A manual heartbeat and electric shock combined can help the cardiac arrest victim.

Basic Life Support (BLS) is a training course for health professionals that provides them with the skills they must possess as healthcare providers. While BLS does include CPR and an overall higher level of medical care, it also covers multiple aspects such as applying rescue breathing techniques, performing CPR on adults, children, and infants, efficiently using an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and bag-valve-mask for ventilation, and relieving airway obstructions or addressing choking-related issues.

Now that we better understand these resuscitation concepts let's look at the differences between CPR AED and BLS courses and the Who, What, and How behind the courses.

Target Student Audience

The target audience for students attending CPR AED versus BLS courses differs. Many people in BLS courses work as professional rescuers or are in school training for a medical career, such as doctors, nurses, and EMTs. Since their job duties require more structured and detailed care, they often have access to different lifesaving equipment that is not typically available to the general public. CPR courses will draw people from all backgrounds, from personal trainers and babysitters to business managers. These people work in comparatively low-risk scenarios where they likely only need to know CPR and how to call the proper authorities.

Course Content Differences

One of the main differences between BLS and CPR AED is BLS courses are typically more in-depth and complex and can be based on working in teams with other professional rescuers in the medical field or as a single-rescuer scenario. In contrast, CPR training teaches you the essentials about performing the CPR technique on a family member or co-worker as a single rescuer.

At ACLS Academy, Our Basic Life Support (BLS) course covers the following:

• CPR for adults, children, and infants. 

• The importance of early use of AED.

• Ventilation using a barrier device. 

• The importance of teams in multi-rescuer resuscitation and the importance of an effective team member. 

• Relief of foreign body airway obstruction for adults and children.

And our ACLS Academy Heartsaver CPR/AED course covers the following:

• Responding to and managing illnesses and injuries in adults, children, and infants.

• First aid basics for common first aid emergencies.

• How to perform lifesaving skills. 

• Usage of AED

• How to recognize cardiac arrest and what to do until EMS arrives.

Technique Application

The student attendees in the courses change how the instructors present and structure information. Furthermore, applying BLS or CPR skills varies from person to person. Professional rescuers will use BLS skills daily to respond to emergency calls. Business professionals will apply their CPR skills at home or work if there is an emergency. Employers in the healthcare field require American Heart healthcare providers' BLS training, while other industries encourage CPR training.

Additionally, BLS also includes lifesaving techniques that are necessary for a medical or hospital setting. The difference between basic life support and CPR is primarily a matter of advancement. Simply put, CPR is a part of BLS, which, in turn, is an advanced form of CPR training. While CPR can be performed anywhere without medical tools or instruments, BLS provides more comprehensive life support under a prescribed therapeutic environment, using sophisticated medical devices and techniques.  CPR is an action, while BLS extends CPR into a healthcare context.

While everyone should be trained in CPR, anyone pursuing a career in medicine will most certainly acquire BLS training. If you are now clear on which course is appropriate for your background and goals, sign up for our Heartsaver CPR/AED course for non-medical professionals or our BLS Course for medical professionals. Contact us if you require additional guidance and we'll be happy to assist.

ACLS Academy is now an American Heart Association Training Center!

We are proud to announce that ACLS Academy has passed the American Heart Association audit and has been designated an AHA Training Center. There is seemingly an endless number of American Heart Association (AHA) training sites, but only a select few can use the title of AHA Training Center. The American Heart Association has established a fleet of Training Centers to help deliver Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) educational courses. This fleet of Training Centers helps strengthen the Chain of Survival by monitoring the proper administration and quality of the Emergency Cardiovascular Care Courses.

Becoming an AHA Training Center is a more stringent process than you may find with other groups, such as the Red Cross or Health Safety Instructor, as the AHA's dedication to quality is unparalleled. As an AHA Training Center, ACLS Academy had to meet AHA criteria, including:

1. Teaching AHA courses in accordance with the official AHA Guidelines.

2. Maintaining at least five AHA Instructors who train at least 3000 BLS students, 600 ACLS students, and 450 PALS students collectively each year.

3. Owning and maintaining all equipment needed for teaching AHA courses.

4. Meeting minimum technical requirements such as using the latest version of one of the top Internet browsers, maintaining knowledge of and effectively using the AHA Instructor Network, eCards, eLearning, eBooks, etc.

AHA Training Centers are certified businesses that work closely with the American Heart Association to provide the utmost care and education when teaching others American Heart Association courses like Heartsaver CPR, BLS, ACLS, PALS, PEARS, and more. AHA Training Centers must adhere to rigorous guidelines and hold integrity in their business practices while facilitating quality education.

As an AHA Training Center, ACLS Academy is responsible for managing many moving pieces, some of which include:

• Providing our Training Sites and instructors with timely communication of any new or updated information about the Training Centers

• Regional or National procedures

• Course content

• Policies

• Course administration could affect an instructor while carrying out their responsibilities

American Heart Association Training Centers are the most recognized and supported training collective in the United States because of the AHA's quality research and curriculum. Furthermore, AHA Training Centers are known for having the most consistent instructor quality and the best background in the courses they teach. Looking for us on the AHA website? We are listed as ACLS Academy – Lynch Medical Consulting (MA21003).

Open Up New Career Opportunities with ACLS Certifications

Stand out in the job market and consider an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification to achieve your medical career goals.  While all nurses and medical professionals are required to have their Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, but getting an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification has become an added benefit for medical providers looking to advance their careers.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) is a system of algorithms and best practices recommended by the American Heart Association to treat life-threatening cardiopulmonary crises. The ACLS course builds on the foundation of lifesaving BLS skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR and introduces the following concepts:

• Team Dynamics and Systems of Care. 

• How the use of a rapid response team (RRT) or medical emergency team (MET) can improve patient outcomes.

• Recognize and manage Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), stroke, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.

• Recognize bradycardia and tachycardias that may result in cardiac arrest.

• Airway management

• Perform early management of cardiac arrest until termination of resuscitation or transfer of care. 

• Evaluate resuscitative efforts.

• Resuscitation Medications

• Hands on demonstration

After passing the ACLS certification exam, you will receive a provider card that permits you to administer Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support for the next 2 years.  On top of the initial course, ACLS recertification is required every two years to keep up with the latest advancements in resuscitation science.

So how can ACLS certification advance your healthcare career?   Here are just three examples how:

Diversify job opportunities - ACLS certification can provide you access to higher-paying job opportunities in diversified fields. Additionally, if you’re interested about working in a specialty area such as the intensive care unit or the emergency department, you’ll be ahead of the game with your ACLS certification. Also, Healthcare professionals with ACLS training also have access to career opportunities outside of hospital settings and emergency centers. The skills acquired from this course are helpful in multiple industries where the risk for encountering someone in cardiac arrest is high, including dentistry, athletics, and community work.

Continuing Education – Completing continuing medical education (CME) is absolutely necessary if you’re looking to advance your healthcare career. Not only are CME credits required annually for nurses and many other healthcare providers, they’re also key to keeping up with evolving practices and technologies needed to provide the best patient care possible.  Additionally an online certification courses are a great option for healthcare providers looking to earn these continuing education credits quickly and conveniently.  You also earn AMA, ANCC, ACPE, and ADA continuing education credits from ACLS and other life support certification courses.

Standing out in the healthcare job market - earning an ACLS certification can advance your healthcare career by making you a valuable member of a resuscitation team and differentiating you from other providers in the highly competitive healthcare field.·       Standing out in the healthcare job market - earning an ACLS certification can advance your healthcare career by making you a valuable member of a resuscitation team and differentiating you from other providers in the highly competitive healthcare field.

If we’ve piqued your interest in an ALCS certification, sign up here for our ACLS course.  If you require additional guidance, feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to assist.

Small Life Alterations for a Healthier Heart in 2023

New Years Resolutions – arrrgh! Does anyone really still make these AND stick to them? How about we take a new approach and call them Healthier Heart Alterations in which we make 1-3 small little adjustments to our daily lifestyle to enhance the most important organ in our body – our heart. Here are our favorites:

1. Drink more water. We’ve heard this advice time and time again but exactly how does this improve your heart? When we are well hydrated, the heart can pump blood through the body more efficiently and reduce strain on our most important muscle. Proper hydration is particularly important for those that have existing heart troubles or who have a higher risk of heart disease. Recommendation: Choose a large beverage vessel and set a goal of drinking and refilling it with water at least 2 times a day. After you’ve achieved that goal, up the number of times you refill it each day.

2. Move. What does this mean for you? It could mean going for a walk once a day or hitting the gym 3 times a week; whatever works for you but make a conscience effort to move every day. Recommendation: Doing any exercise activity with family or friends makes the time more enjoyable and provides accountability in making it happen.

3. Identify sources of Anxiety. Anxiety can trigger the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Consciously identify your anxiety triggers and find ways to reduce them. Recommendation: Methods our friends and family utilize include: exercise (see how this comes up again and again!), listening to music or an ebook, conversing with family and friends, disconnecting from devices (taking a break from email, social media), even taking a break from the news if that is a trigger, or journaling to release your thoughts.

4. Eat Healthier. This could be a small as swapping out sugary drinks for water, reducing the frequency of eating out, eating a salad as your main course once a week or putting down the salt shaker and switching to reduced salt options of grocery products. It could also be as big as adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal and snack, switching to only lean proteins or eliminating meat from your diet entirely. Just keep in mind any healthy change to your eating habits is a step in the right direction. Recommendation: Choose one health dietary change for 2 weeks and progress in adding another every 2 weeks.

5. Get more sleep. Not getting enough sleep can lead to overeating, fatigue, heart failure, hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Additionally, less sleep on a consistent basis can increase blood pressure and cause inflammation. All these things have negative impacts on your heart health. Suggestions to improve the ability to fall and stay asleep include: Putting devices away long before bedtime, reduce caffeine intake especially later in the day, daily exercise and sleeping in a cool, dark room.

If there is one thing to keep in mind as you set your own Healthier Heart Alterations it is to look for progress, and not perfection and chances are you’ll be a path to a heathier you.

Meet Jaime, One of ACLS Academy’s Fabulous Instructors

MEET JAIME!

In need of an ACLS or BLS certification course? Let us introduce you to Jaime, a passionate and long-time instructor of ACLS and BLS courses at ACLS Academy.

Medical Career Experience: Registered Nurse since 2011 with a diverse background as a Medical Surgical Nurse, ICU Nurse and currently as Post Anesthesia Care Unit Nurse at South Shore Hospital.

Education: Graduated as an undergrad from Curry College and Southern New Hampshire University for her MSN in Nursing Education.

Background: She’s a South Shore Massachusetts girl having grown up in Stoughton, living in Bridgewater and mom to two little ones.

Teaching Background: Joined ACLS Academy in spring of 2017. Thinks it is great her classes are on the smaller side (5 student average) so instruction can be tailored to the student attendees for more individualized training and speed of instruction. Learned “how to teach” from Dr. Shelly Lynch, ACLS Academy Founder MSN, NP-BC, APRN, CCRN and how to “make it her own” by imparting her knowledge and experiences to help her students better understand course content and real application.

Why ACLS Academy? Found the organization to be one of the most supportive and sincere group of people she’s ever encountered. Loves the flexibility ACLS Academy provides allowing her an optimal work/ life balances while still being able to teach and share her knowledge and experience in the areas of ACLS and BLS.

Training Secret Sauce: A focus on practicing skills during course instruction to reinforce the learning and practical application of the skill.

Next Career Educational Goal: Starting classes for her Nurse Practitioner in Psychiatry in 2023.

December: A Time of Joy but Also an Increase in Heart Attacks

Who doesn’t love Andy Williams crooning away singing the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”?  And while it is for many, it can also be one of the deadliest seasons of the year due to an increase in heart attacks. 

Research has shown that fatal heart attacks are highest during the holidays. In a study led by the University of California San Diego, researchers discovered more cardiac deaths occur on Christmas Day than any other day of the year, peaking again on New Year's Day.  The researchers dubbed their theory as the “Merry Christmas Coronary” and “Happy New Year Heart Attack” Phenomenon.

There are a number of causes contributing to this fatal problem as around the holidays, people might be more likely to skip their medication doses or fail to exercise. Additionally, they might experience higher levels of stress, postpone regular doctor appointments or ignore symptoms and seeking medical attention to avoid disrupting holiday plans.  All of this, paired with typically higher levels of drinking, eating richer, saltier foods along with larger portions, might lead to dangerously high blood pressure and ultimately a heart attack.

One of the most heart-friendly things you can do this time of the year is to avoid the “too much” trap.  To protect your heart during the holidays take some simple important steps.

Resist the urge to “do it all”

Instead of trying to maintain all of your holiday traditions, decide on the most important things and downsize or skip the rest.  Seek small but significant changes such as limiting inside and outside decorations to a festive few, ordering gifts online instead of going to crowded stores and leaving all those holiday parties a bit earlier to get an hour or two more of sleep.

Choose gatherings that bring you joy

Spend more time with people you enjoy being with — and less with those you don’t. Don’t feel obligated to attend every holiday party or even obligated to throw your own holiday gathering;  it’s ok to skip a year and establish a new “every other year” tradition.

Schedule Down Time

Make sure you have days where nothing is scheduled.  Feeling exhausted and anxious?  Set aside at least a few minutes each day for a dedicated stress-buster like exercise, quiet reflection or even journaling.  You could even open photo albums and re-live holiday memories from the past. 

Be active, but don’t overexert yourself

Ensure you maintain your regular exercise regime.  Make it a priority to carve out time in your busy schedule to get this done. Exercise helps manage stress, and it helps keep your heart healthy.    However, don’t do activities where you push yourself beyond your physical limitations.   Vigorous activities like shoveling the whole driveway or stringing up a massive light display can stress your heart if these fall outside your normal physical limitations..

Indulge in moderation

Enjoy your favorite holiday foods in small portions and balance out feast days with healthy fare. Don’t feel obligated to try every sweet treat of every friend and family baker or even better freeze these morsels to enjoy at a later date.  Be conscious of over indulging it on the alcohol as it can worsen an irregular heartbeat.

Keep up with your medications

Stay on top of all your prescriptions while traveling and during those hectic days as missing even a dose can affect a drug’s effectiveness.

Don’t ignore symptoms that could signal a heart attack

If you or a loved one mentions discomfort that sounds like a possible heart attack symptom, call 911 right away.

Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Chest pain in the center of the chest. Patients often describe it as a feeling of uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or fullness. The discomfort can come and go or linger for several minutes or more.

• Upper-body discomfort. It’s common for patients to experience pain in one or both arms, their neck, jaw, back, or stomach.

• Shortness of breath. It can be accompanied by chest pain, but isn’t always.

• Other signs may be nausea, light-headedness or breaking out in a cold sweat

ACLS Academy wishes everyone a safe and healthy holiday season with all of the joy and less of the stress.

Heartsaver Bloodborne Pathogens Course Highlight

What is a pathogen?
A pathogen is defined as a microorganism, such as a bacterium or a virus that can cause disease. Some examples of blood-borne pathogens include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), malaria, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C. These are severe illnesses to contract and protecting yourself from contracting them is extremely important for those in occupations where exposure is a possibility. Even if don’t directly interact with individuals who may be infected with a pathogen, you may be exposed to contaminated surfaces or items which can spread the microorganism.

ACLS Academy’s Heartsaver Bloodborne Pathogens Course reflects science and education from the American Heart Association Guidelines.

Who should take the course?
The Heartsaver Bloodborne Pathogens Course teaches students how to protect themselves and others from being exposed to blood or blood-containing materials and meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for bloodborne pathogens training, along with site specific training for each student’s occupation. The course was designed specifically for workplace and health and safety personnel who must take a OSHA mandated course as well as for anyone with a reasonable chance of coming into contact with bloodborne pathogens such as: correctional officers, childcare workers, security guards, maintenance workers, school personnel, hospitality workers such as housekeepers, health and fitness club staff, tattoo artists, and religious / civic organizations. This class is not intended for healthcare providers. Please take our BLS Course if you are in the healthcare field.

What does the course cover?
This course uses the PACT acronym (Protect, Act, Clean, Tell) and tagline, “Make a PACT, Know How to Act™,” to help students learn and easily recall bloodborne pathogens training. Students learn how to:

Protect themselves from blood or blood-containing materials
Act when exposed to blood or blood-containing materials in the workplace
Clean themselves and the area involved when exposed to blood or blood-containing materials in the workplace
Tell or report any exposure to blood or blood-containing materials in the workplace

Those who complete the training receive a Bloodborne Pathogens Training certification valid for one year. Sign up here for ACLS Academy’s Bloodborne Pathogens course.

November 26th is Small Business Day: ACLS Academy is Proud to be a Local Small Business

Small businesses come in many different forms. They can be your mom and pop dry cleaner, take out place or restaurant, a single brick and mortar boutique or online specialty store. They may also include your landscaper, daycare, plumber, hairdresser or other service person, who many of us rely on a regular basis. ACLS Academy is also a small business started by Shelley and Chad Lynch in 2014 having identified the need for more opportunities to train and educate the general public on the importance of proper CPR & AED use.

In the beginning it was just Chad and Shelley. But when they shared their vision, they soon gathered the education and experience of 12 other instructors from doctors, nurse practitioners, critical care nurses, paramedics, and coaches.  After developing this network of instructors, who were as passionate as Shelley and Chad, and the synthesis of curriculum, staffing, and business plan came to be, a convenient location was found and the first classes were offered. 

ACLS Academy has grown to three locations in Quincy, East Bridgewater and Newton Center with over 20 instructors serving many thousands of students annually. The business has grown to what it is now, one of the most prominent, respected and thorough AHA training sites in the Boston area. As small business owners whose catalyst was the need to make a difference, Shelley and Chad define success as creating a business that people want to come back to for additional education. They define their personal success as being proud that they provide a meaningful service that will leave the world a better place. This is the cornerstone for their company and what sparked the idea, helped them build from the ground up, and drives their passion to educate others of all backgrounds.

Shelley and Chad are proud to be a small business and thank you for your support!

By Providers, for Providers. 

Keep Your Thanksgiving Safe: Choking Prevention and Response

While choking can always a concern, between the big meal, the wine, the lively conversation, and rushing while eating, it’s a real hazard during the holidays.  We know that choking can occur to anyone, but it is children younger than 4 years old who are at the highest risk, since they haven’t quite mastered chewing.

To reduce choking risks for everyone:

·  Cut all food into small pieces for young children. Round foods (e.g. hot dogs, carrots, grapes, etc.) should be cut in quarters or smaller.

·  Supervise children while they’re eating and keep them at the table. No lying down or running around with food.

·  Eat slowly and chew food completely. Remind children to slow down when eating.

·  Avoid talking and laughing with food in your mouth.

·  Limit your alcohol intake and other distractions during meals.

If you recognize the signs of choking (e.g. the person can’t breathe, cough effectively, or speak) or if someone is giving the universal sign for choking (one or both hands at the throat), you need to act quickly. First try five sharp blows to the back. If that doesn’t work perform the Heimlich maneuver:

1.     Reach under the person’s arms from behind. Place your fist just above the navel, thumb side in. Grasp your fist with your other hand.

2.     Perform quick, forceful abdominal thrusts in and up.

3.     Continue to give abdominal thrusts until the object comes out or the person becomes unresponsive.

This technique is the same for adults and children age one and older. Keep in mind you may need to kneel down behind the child to give abdominal thrusts, depending on the child’s size.

A serious airway obstruction is life-threatening. Call 911 if you’re unable to dislodge the object. If the person becomes unresponsive, carefully lower the person to the ground and begin CPR immediately - with the added step of looking in the mouth after each set of compressions.

November 17th is International Students Day: Healthcare Professionals Are Lifelong Students

“I am still learning.”
— Michelangelo at age 87

While some of us may not perceive ourselves as full time students, as healthcare professionals we know we are lifelong students. Whether is it continuing education requirements, re-certifications, or additional training courses to change specialties, disciplines, careers or jobs, we are always learning and gaining new knowledge and skills. Some of our education may not be formal or even intentional but rather through day to day engagement and interactions with others, where all of a sudden you think, “Wow, I didn’t know that.”  That’s a student moment, even if you didn’t recognize it.

November 17th was chosen as International Students day to commemorate an incident in 1939 when students of the Medical Faculty at Charles University in Prague held a demonstration to celebrate the formation of an independent Czechoslovak Republic. The event received political push-back and violence and the first observance took place in 1941 at the International Students’ Council in London to honor the student activists. 

It is the perfect opportunity for us to honor students of the world, who are working hard to achieve their career goals and make a difference.  Just as we, as Healthcare Professionals and lifelong students, are also making a difference to so many individuals whose lives intersect with our work. 

ACLS Academy is Investing in YOU: We’ve Purchased More Equipment for Your Optimal Learning Experience

Though we are months away from the holidays, it feels like that favorite gift giving time of year here at ACLS Academy. We are so excited to share that we’ve recently purchased a new Code Cart Simulator for our Quincy location, and everyone is loving it! This new cart simulator purchase enhances the simulation during our Megacode Testing Sessions. So what does it do? The ACLS Academy Code Cart is a training and resource tool that lets users explore a fully stocked pediatric code cart via augmented reality.

Some of its features include:

• Highly-detailed model and drawer contents

• Simple touch-to-interact controls

• Tips and information from experienced medical experts

• Feedback on user performance

• Leaderboard comparing performance with other app users

We are planning on purchasing additional Code Cart Simulators for our other locations as well~

Additionally, ACLS Academy also purchased a simulator for placement of OPA and NPAs airway devices.  The simulator is ideal for teaching and training all types of airway management procedures including:

·       Endotracheal intubation including orotracheal & nastracheal intubation training

·       Difficult airway courses

·       Airway management courses for nurses

·       Pediatric airways courses

·       Emergency airway management

·       Cricothyroidotomy

·       Airway management in anesthesia

·       Bag-valve-mask ventilation

This lifelike airway trainer is anatomically accurate and provides realistic feedback during practice. 

ACLS Academy is committed to the purchase and maintenance of the highest quality equipment for our instructors and students. We are dedicated to keeping all our equipment up to date and utilizing newer simulators for the best learning experience for our students. We hope you will sign up for an ACLS Academy course and experience firsthand these cutting edge simulators.

How the ACLS Academy TNCC Course and Certifications Will Improve your Skills When Every Second Counts

Emergency room nurses know that seconds matter when your patient’s life hangs in the balance. A TNCC certification will teach you to respond faster and with more knowledge in this breakneck setting. Here are just some of the things that the Trauma Nursing Core Course will teach you.

Improve Your Skills and Response Time

The ACLS Academy TNCC Course includes lectures and instruction taught by qualified emergency nurses as well hands-on practice sessions to apply your skills. Medical practitioners know, whether you’re a new nurse or an experienced practitioner, there’s always more that you can learn. One of the first areas of focus in the certification training is the trauma nursing assessment, which allows you to quickly identify the primary problem with your patient. Your critical thinking skills will be sharpened and tested while also learning how use common sense and your nursing knowledge to improve patient outcomes.

Coverage of Specialty Areas

Different segments will focus on chest, abdominal, musculoskeletal, brain, facial, and neck trauma. You’ll also learn how to take care of burns, deal with patients during major disasters, triage patients, stop bleeding and limit tissue damage. So, if you typically only focus on one type of patient or are new to emergency room nursing, we cover a wide range of specialty areas in this section, so you feel the confidence to address a plethora of situations.

Get Hands-on Experience

Lectures are the foundation where you learn from experienced nurses, but the hands-on skills stations will give you the most confidence in treating your own patients. Live simulation using both an individual and team approach will help you know if you have what it takes to think on your feet in quickly changing environments. Your final examination includes not only a written multiple-choice test but also a hands- on practical examination. Trauma nursing process psychomotor skills stations offer you the opportunity to practice trauma patient assessments and interventions in a controlled environment.

Improve Your Confidence in the Emergency Room

Emergency room nurses must be able to think on their feet and must be willing to see any type of trauma, pain, disaster, or disease. It is a special breed of nurses who thrive and grow in an atmosphere where you are likely to face something new and unexpected when the next patient crosses the threshold. If you know that you love this type of fast-paced nursing but are just lacking that little bit of confidence and knowledge needed to work with certain types of patients, the TNCC course is the right choice for you. Not only will your certification look good on your resume, but will also provide you with the self-assurance necessary to perform life-saving tasks.

Even if you are an LPN or paramedic, consider taking the TNCC classes. Although you will not get the certification, you’ll get the CE credits and plenty of knowledge for your job.

Closed Loop Communication & Effective Team Dynamics During Emergencies

When a person has a cardiac arrest, they need CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the American Heart Association has guidelines for providing effective CPR – whether it is Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Part of the guidelines include effective team dynamics, emphasis on effective communication. So when there is a code because a person is in need of resuscitation, they recommend that the following things be in place for the code to be most successful.

Close Loop Communication

In closed-loop communication, the person receiving instruction or information repeats it back to make sure the message is understood correctly, and the sender confirms to “close the loop.” It does not require more time, and in fact, it is likely to save time.

Clear Messages

It is important that the person assigning a task or communicating (in the case of CPR, the team leader giving an order) do so in a clear and concise manner. The message should be distinct and calm, not rushed.

Clear Roles and Responsibilities

Before you start a resuscitation, always assign a “clear role” to each team member. As a team member, if you are given a role you are not competent enough at, you should let the team lead know and ask for another role. Do not take a new role by yourself.

Know Your Limitations and ask for Assistance Early

Team members including the team leader should ask for assistance or advice early before the situation gets out of hand. This will apply in any team environment. It is vital to know one’s limitations and then ask for assistance when needed. The AHA recommends this as an important part of teamwork in CPR.

Knowledge Sharing

The AHA teaches that – “team leaders should ask for ideas for a differential diagnosis…” as well as frequently seek observations from team members for possible oversight. Getting contributions from everyone in the team gives you the best chance of coming up with what the real problem is, so you can treat the cause of the problem and so help the patient. We can all learn from someone else’s knowledge and experiences.

Constructive Intervention

It is important, especially in a code situation, that if you see someone about to make an error or if you notice that the team leader gave an incorrect order or gave and order at the wrong time, then you say something. However, the delivery of this message is equally as important. The AHA says we must be tactful and professional at all times, especially when correcting a colleague you think is about to make a mistake.

Summarizing & Re-evaluation

At the end of the code (or soon after), when all the information is still fresh in mind, the AHA recommends that we step back and evaluate the process so the team members can learn. It is vital to look back and see what you did well and what you didn’t do well and can improve on.

BLS vs. ACLS, What’s the Difference?

Basically the objective of ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and BLS (Basic Life Support) are the same, which is learning how to aid in saving the life of someone in cardiac arrest. However distinction between ACLS and BLS is the level of advancement between the two. Let’s summarize what the two certifications cover:

BLS: Basic Life Support Certification

As you may suspect from its name, Basic Life Support certification covers the minimum emergency care you need to know before professionals can take over. Techniques covered in the course are CPR, how to use an AED, rescue breathing, and a few other basic skills. BLS instructors are also not always doctors themselves since the qualification is not required to teach low-level life support. Overall, a BLS class is a good choice if you just want to meet an employer’s requirement or brush up on your knowledge of first aid.  We recommend this classes for teachers, coaches, babysitters, and others who need to know first aid in their everyday jobs.

ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification

This advanced class teaches the same life support techniques as the BLS, but in more detail and with many more first aid procedures added into the curriculum. ACLS certification also includes cardiac arrest interventions such as intubation, medications, and IVs, as examples, as well as medical team dynamics and communication.  ACLS is designed for healthcare professionals such as future EMTs, who have already passed basic courses and need higher-level education. We also recommend this class for doctors, nurses, and emergency responders. 

Before you sign up for either class, take a moment to consider what you’ll learn in a BLS training course vs through ACLS training. What are the exact differences? Which certification is likely to help you more?  If you require additional guidance, feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to assist.  If you know which one is right for you, sign up here for our BLS course or here for our ACLS course.