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APPROVALS AND CPR TRAINING
The American Heart Association publishes guidelines for CPR, most recently in the 2005 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiac Care, which are revised only every 4-5 years. Occasional focused interim updates are also distributed. The
AHA is not responsible for and does not approve CPR training courses.
It is the responsibility of all education and training organizations to comply with the best available medical evidence from these guidelines and updates as well as the published medical literature.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration OHSA CPR and First Aid training, but does NOT approve CPR training courses.
The American Red Cross follows the same published CPR guidelines and do NOT approve CPR training courses.
Although many people believe that the American Red Cross determines what is taught in CPR courses, this is not correct. They are a training organization and must follow the same international guidelines and standards from medical evidence as FAFA. Larger training providers acknowledge this. For example on the web site of Medic First Aid, it accurately states:
"Contrary to popular belief, the American Red Cross does not establish first aid practice or training program guidelines. All first aid training programs, including the ARC, must conform program content to the current state of medical knowledge as evidenced by published medical texts and journals." Medic First Aid (Top)
If there is no Approval Process, how is quality assured?
The AHA produces guidelines based on the ILCOR guidelines. All training organizations must create teaching programs based on these guidelines.
Through years of practice and research a series of procedures have been established and continue to evolve. The AHA, through publishing the 2005 Guidelines for CPR and ECC, established the consensus guidelines in the United States at that time. All organizations and individuals, including the AHA, are obligated to consider them. This content has become the basis of CPR and AED courses and is incorporated into regulations at the federal and state level. However, these guidelines are only published every 5 or so years, and new medical research frequently supersedes some of the recommendations. As a result, the current knowledge and experience of a medical expert is taken to represent the best medical evidence in regards to CPR training. (Top)
OHSA
OSHA specifies that workers in specific settings must have basic safety training, including training in CPR. The requirements vary according to industry and the assessed risk of the specific duty. Accordingly, OSHA requires CPR training; it does not issue certificates.
John Howard of Cal OSHA responding to a question relating to whether certification is required:
"Federal OSHA instruction CPL 2-5.53 does not require certification of the student, the course or the instructor. The only place where evaluation or assessment of the "student" is mentioned in CPL 2-2.53 is on page A-4 under "Trainee Assessments" where the instruction states that 'assessment of successful completion of the first aid training program should include instructor observation of acquired skills and written performance assessments. First aid skills and knowledge should be reviewed every three years.'"
States can enact legislation which requires more content or training than the federal guidelines, but not less. States can use the federal guidelines without enacting further legislation. The federal guidelines are found in document CPL 2-2.53. States may enact statues and/or regulations which require various groups to have first aid training above those specified in the federal OSHA guidelines. As an example of state regulation, in California , the Medical Services and First Aid Standard (8 CCR section 3400) is the document which applies.
California OSHA 8 CCR section 3400(b) requires that
"training shall be equal to that of the American Red Cross or the Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration (now called the Mine Safety and Health Administration)."
Some training organizations advertise that their training is OSHA approved. This is not a correct statement. OSHA does not approve trainers or training programs.
"However, I do know that the Division of Occupational Safety and Health does not "certify" or "recognize" providers of CPR and first aid in any way, which has been the policy of the Division for a number of years. Thus, the term "OSHA-approved" as it appears on any first aid and/or CPR course training materials has no legitimacy." John Howard (Top)
ILCOR
ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation ) is the international body that sets the broad standards used to teach CPR. The AHA (American Heart Association) is a member of this international organization.
The current AHA Guidelines 2005 conflict with some of the guidelines as recommended by ILCOR. FAFA has products which meet the ILCOR guidelines and which meet the AHA guidelines (Top)
Professional Associations
Most professional organizations accept CPR training which meets the Federal and State standards and complies with the American Heart Association's guidelines. (Top)
FAFA TRAINING MEETS JCAHO STANDARDS
The First Aid For All (FAFA) Healthcare Provider BLS and CPR training course meets the standards set by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and as outlined in the 2005 Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals (CAMH). Specifically FAFA meets all of the following requirements.
Standard HR.1.20
The hospital has a process to ensure that a person's qualifications are consistent with his or her job responsibilities.
Elements of Performance for HR.1.20
3. Current licensure, certification, or registration
4. Education, experience, and competence appropriate for assigned responsibilities
Standard HR.2.30
Ongoing education, including in-services, training, and other activities, maintains and improves competence.
Elements of Performance for HR.2.30
2. Participation in ongoing in-services, training, or other activities occurs to increase staff, student, or volunteer knowledge of work-related issues
Standard HR.3.10
Competence to perform job responsibilities is assessed, demonstrated, and maintained.
Elements of Performance for Standard HR.3.10
2. Defined competencies to be required
4. Defined competencies that need to be assessed and reassessed on an ongoing basis, based on techniques, procedures, technology, equipment, or skills needed to provide care, treatment, and services
5. A defined time frame for how often competence assessments are performed for each person, minimally, once in the three-year accreditation cycle in accordance with law and
regulation
6. Assessment methods (appropriate to determine the skill being assessed)
7. The use of qualified individuals to assess competence
Standard PC.9.30
Resuscitation services are available throughout the hospital.
Elements of Performance for Standard PC.9.30
1. Policies, procedures, processes, or protocols govern the provision of resuscitation services
4. Appropriate staff is trained and competent to recognize the need for and use of designated equipment in resuscitation efforts. (Top)
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