BVHS offers CPR course geared toward babysitters

Blanchard Valley Health System is offering several upcoming first aid and CPR classes to the community, including a new pediatric class designed for babysitters. The HeartSaver pediatric course for babysitters includes education on infant CPR, child CPR, automated external defibrillators, and choking in children, infants and adults. Other units focus on basic first aid and how to address specific types of medical emergencies, such as bleeding or allergic reactions. Water safety, poisoning and heat and cold safety are also among the topics covered. The new course is particularly geared toward high school students and others who will be babysitting this summer. The class for babysitters is fully instructor-led, rather than being a mixture of hands-on and online instruction like some other classes. The first course begins May 30. BVHS also offers a HeartSaver course teaching first aid and CPR to adults. This course is often taken by groups of people working for employers who require such training, but it is also possible to sign up as an individual. The American Heart Association estimates that more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year in the United States, but only about 40% of those who experience them get the immediate help they need before professional help arrives. When a bystander can perform immediate high-quality CPR and use an automated external defibrillator, survival rates may double or even triple, the association claims. "We're excited to now also offer the HeartSaver pediatric class for babysitters," said Jason Brunswick, simulation and clinical education coordinator at BVHS. "As a parent myself, I know how reassuring it is to know that babysitters have had first aid training." The HeartSaver classes are designed for the general public, but BVHS also offers several classes, such as basic life support, for medical professionals. These classes are open to BVHS associates and professionals at other medical or dental clinics. BVHS also participates in Resuscitation Quality Improvement. After medical professionals take an online course, an RQI cart with an adult and infant mannequin can be brought to their office so associates do not need to come in individually for hands-on training. It also is possible to take the classes as an individual rather than in a group. Programs available in RQI are basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support. All classes come with a valid two-year e-card through the American Heart Association. Visit https://www.bvhealthsystem.org/classes-and-events for more information or to register for a class.