Which Course Is Right For Me?

Family & Friends ® programs are intended for members of the general public who would like to learn basic CPR and/or first aid, including:

  • families with children or elderly relatives
  • college-dorm resident assistants
  • athletes or wilderness explorers
  • members of volunteer organizations
  • residents of rural areas or locations prone to natural disasters

These programs are noncredentialed – no course card will be awarded upon completion. Anyone required by his or her employer or wishing to be credentialed as a lay responder should take a Heartsaver ® course.

Heartsaver ® courses are intended for fortune 1500 companies and for employees in industries such as:

  • security
  • law enforcement
  • state correctional facilities
  • colleges and universities
  • hospitality
  • health and fitness
  • property management
  • construction
  • occupational and environmental health and safety
  • child care
  • manufacturing
  • education
  • airline
  • and any others where having a workforce of trained lay responders may prove invaluable for the safety of both customers and employees

BLS training is intended for certified or non-certified, licensed or non-licensed, healthcare professionals, including:

  • physicians
  • nurses
  • paramedics
  • emergency medical technicians
  • respiratory, physical, and occupational therapists
  • physician’s assistants
  • residents or fellows
  • medical or nursing students in training
  • aides, medical or nursing assistants, and other allied health personnel

In addition, BLS training can be appropriate for first responders, such as police officers and firefighters, as well as for laypeople whose work brings them into contact with members of the public, such as school, fitness center, or hotel and restaurant employees.