Pennsylvania ACLS, PALS, BLS & CPR

Online CPR AED Certification & First Aid Medical Certification Pennsylvania

Nationwide Health Training is now providing our comprehensive online training classes to residents in Pennsylvania. We offer the following courses:

CPR/AED (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation & Automated External Defibrillator)

First Aid

ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)

PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)

BLS (Basic Life Support)

Our CPR/AED and First Aid classes are beneficial for all working professionals regardless of field or job seekers who would like to increase their hiring potential. ACLS, PALS & BLS certification are generally only required for health care professionals and emergency responders. Our courses follow the emergency cardiovascular care (ECC) guidelines set by the American Heart Association and are updated every five years as required by the AHA. The most recent update to the AHA guidelines was in 2015. Our certification courses are completed 100% online; we do not require an in-person skills test as a requirement to be certified. What does this mean for you? You can complete the course at your own pace and at any time, day or night. The course materials and exam are easy to navigate even if you are not technologically savvy.

STEP 1: Choose the certification course that you would like to take.

STEP 2: Compete enrollment

STEP 3: Study the course materials

STEP 4: Take the exam

STEP 5: Print your provider card!

PENNSYLVANIA CPR AED & FIRST AID CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Our online CPR/AED & First Aid class teaches individualsthe current protocol to recognize different types of medical emergencies and how to administer the proper care. CPR is especially important for jobs that require you to respond to emergency situations such as fire fighters and life guards, but is useful in any working environment.As of 2016, Pennsylvania is currently one of only 14 states that doesn’t require high schools to offer CPR & First Aid classes to their students. If you are a high school student, parent, teacher or administrator that would like to see CPR, AED & First Aid added to your school’s curriculum sign the petition here. ( linking to https://www.change.org/p/pennsylvania-state-house-make-cpr-education-mandatory-in-pennsylvania-high-schools )

*Update: As of January 2017, the bill to enact legislation which would require CPR/AED and First Aid classes be offered to high school students in Pennsylvania was introduced.

CPR AED CERTIFICATION ONLINE CLASS INFORMATION

We offer CPR, AED and First Aid courses for individuals who are required to be certified for employment purposes. Our certification courses, which were created using the AHA CPR guidelines, are recognized in the United States and Canada.Each course was created by alicensed medical specialist and is reviewed periodically for updates. If you are not required to be certified and would like to receive free CPR & First Aid information, visit out blog (linking to the blog page.

The course materials will include the proper technique for administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation on infants, children and adults, as well as, how to use an automatic external defibrillator. The course includes in-depth information on proper protocol and techniques with illustrations to demonstrate how to perform each technique. Once you are confident that you fully understand the CPR guidelines you may begin the actual certification exam. The exam is not timed but it does need to be completed in one sitting. To avoid the possibility of your exam progress being lost, we do not advise leaving your computer for long periods of time. Once you have successfully passed the CPR/ AED or First Aid test, you will be able to download your certification card.

Get your CPR/AED & First Aid certification or recertification online here (link to course info page).

ACLS, PALS & BLS CERTIFICATION & RECERTIFICATION

We offer ACLS, PALS & BLS certification courses for healthcare providers who care for patients that are suffering from cardiovascular emergencies. Our courses will go over the clinical interventions used in the treatment of life-threatening cardiac emergencies.

Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals that provide care for infants and children that are having respiratory or cardiac issues are generally required to be certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support or PALS. PALS certified providers are trained to assess and treat pediatric patients to prevent them from going into cardiopulmonary arrest. If you are required to be certified in PALS and ACLS, we offer a special bundle price for both courses. Simply select the appropriate package during enrollment. Courses selected as part of a bundle do not have to be taken at one time. As an example, you could take your PALS course today and your ACLS course a year from now if you wish.

Our ACLS course is ideal for critical care physicians, nurses and paramedics that work in advancedclinical settings. Not every healthcare provider is required to be ACLS certified at this time, but anyone that may need to respond to a cardiovascular emergency, should be trained. ACLS certification needs to be renewed every two years and can be earned through our recertification course.

BLS is generally required for most healthcare providers and is the highest level of CPR training. BLS is considered healthcare provider level CPR.

ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commonly known as Pennsylvania is the 5^th most populous state in the United States (as of 2017). The estimated population of the state is 12.8 million. The five most populous cities are Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Allentown, Erie and Reading. Pennsylvania is one of the original founding states and was the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The capitol of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg, which is has the tenth largest population in the state.

According the America’s Health Rankings 2015 annual report, Pennsylvania ranks 29^th in the nation for overall health. Areas of strength are a low incidence of infectious disease, violent crime and a high immunization coverage among children and adolescents. Areas of opportunity are the high levels of air pollution, low per capita health funding and a high rate of death due to drug use. There are 179 non-federal hospitals in Pennsylvania and 135.1 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents.

PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, is the 6^th most populous in the states. In 2016, the estimated population was nearly 1.6 million. The city is part of the Philadelphia County which is a part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical area. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington is the seventh most populous Metropolitan Area in the United States.

In the Philadelphia area there are 26 main hospitals. For 2016-2017, the Hospitals of the University of Pennsylvania-Penn Presbyterian were ranked ninth by the U.S. News and World Report for Best Hospitals in the United States and were nationally ranked in 11 different specialties. The Hospitals are ranked #1 in Pennsylvania, as well as, Philadelphia followed by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Christian Care-Christiana Hospital. The Hospitals system is made up of five different hospitals: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital and Lancaster General Health. In addition, there are 10 multispecialty centers.

A 2014 study of the leading causes of death in the U.S., showed that Philadelphia had a higher number of deaths (per 100,000 residents) due to cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, compared to the rest of the state and the nation. Philadelphia had less deaths (per 100,000) due to neurological disorders and chronic respiratory disease compared to the rest of the United States.

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh is the second most populous city in Pennsylvania and is a part of the Allegheny County. As of 2017, the Pittsburgh population was 305,704. According to the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report, the Pittsburg region ranked eighth- worst in the nation for the second year in a row for year-round fine particle pollution. High amounts of fine particle pollution put residents at a higher risk for premature death, lung cancer, cardiovascular harm and asthma attacks. It can also cause reproductive harm and make a person more susceptible to infections. To protect yourself from the harms of air pollution, refrain from exercising near high traffic areas. Check air quality reports and limit the amount of time spent outdoors when pollution is high.

There are 11 hospitals plus 2 hospital systems in Pittsburg. The University of Pittsburg Medical Center (UPMC) and West Penn Allegheny Health System have 15 hospitals between the two. The UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside was ranked by U.S. News and World first in Pittsburgh and second in the rest of the state. The hospital is nationally ranked in 14 specialties including pulmonology, rheumatology, ear nose and throat, gastroenterology & GI surgery.

ALLENTOWN

Allentown is the fastest growing city in the state. The city has a population of approximately 120,000 (2016) residents making it the third most populous in Pennsylvania. Allentown is a part of the Lehigh County and the New York City Metropolitan Area. Allentown is only 90 miles away from New York City. In 2017, the American Lung Association’s ‘State of the Air’ report gave Lehigh County a “C” grade for ozone levels. The prior year, the County had scored an “F” grade due to the area having more than four days of high ozone pollution days. Unhealthy ozone levels can make it difficult to breathe vigorously and can continue to cause damage to the lungs even when symptoms are gone.

ERIE

Erie is the fourth most populous city in Pennsylvania with a population of 99,452 in 2014. The city’s population had been on a slow decline for years and in 2014 it hit the lowest number in nearly a century. Erie’s population had not dipped below 100,000 since 1920. Erie is a part of the Erie County and the Erie Metropolitan area. There are 18 health centers and hospitals in the Erie area. The University of Pittsburg Medical Center Hamot (formerly Hamot Medical Center) and the Saint Vincent Health System are two of the largest employers in the Erie area. UPMC Hamot was ranked #12 in Pennsylvania by the US and World News Report. The hospital has many specialties including. cardiology & heart surgery, pulmonology, orthopedics, geriatrics, nephrology and cancer.

READING

Reading is the fifth most populous city in Pennsylvania and a part of the Berks County. According to the 2010 census, there was a population of 88,976in Reading, with the highest percent of citizens living in poverty (in the U.S.). The Reading Hospital and Medical Center is the largest employer in the city with approximately 7,000 employees. Reading Hospital and Medical Center is located in West Reading and is ranked 8^th in the state by U.S. News and World Report. The hospital ranks nationally for Pulmonology and is rated high performing for COPD, hip and knee replacement, colon cancer surgery and heart failure.

PENNSYLVANIA CPR STORIES

March 20, 2015A 22-month old toddler in Mifflinburg Pennsylvania, was revived after he underwent 101 minutes of CPR. The toddler was missing for 20 minutes before his neighbor found him floating in a nearly frozen creek. Fortunately, the freezing water preserved the toddler’s organs and brain. Normally, in cases of cardiac arrest, irreversible brain damage can happen after 2-5 minutes of being deprived of oxygen. The rescuers immediately began to administer CPR, continued as he was airlifted to a hospital and in the emergency room. After 101 minutes of continuous CPR and attempts to warm the toddlers’ body, the doctors were able to get a pulse. Pediatric critical care doctor Dr. Frank Maffei attributed the success to the training of the people involved.

To read more about this story visit: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/pennsylvania-boy-survived-101-minutes-cpr-suspended-animation/story?id=29785402

 

January 27, 2017 15-year old Walter Virany is being hailed a hero after performing CPR on his friend Parker who had collapsed and stopped breathing at a skate park. When Virany’s friend looked at him and said “my heart stopped”, Virany thought he was joking. A few seconds later, he realized it wasn’t a joke and called 911. Virany was taught CPR in his health class and was able to administer it to Parker until the paramedics arrived. Doctor Kevin Friend of St. Clair Hospital attributed Parker’s survival to Walter’s health class and his state of mind. Walter was given an award by the Allegheny County police for his heroic service.

To read more about this story visit: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/01/27/teen-honored-for-performing-cpr-saving-friends-life-at-skate-park/

Resources

http://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/2015-annual-report/measure/Overall/state/PA

http://www.phila.gov/residents/hospitals/index.html

https://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2016-08-02/us-news-announces-the-201617-best-hospitals

http://www.phillyvoice.com/here-are-leading-causes-death-philadelphia/

http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/sota/health-risks/

http://www.goerie.com/news/20150521/eries-population-sinks-to-lowest-in-nearly-a-century

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Pennsylvania