Cape & Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross Announces Web-Based Blended Learning Programs

Web-based programs offered for CPR and AED training

HYANNIS - The Cape Cod and Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross announces an exciting new opportunity for those seeking training in  CPR and Automatic External Defibrillators (AED).

Web-based Blended learning allows for flexible and self-paced training.  Unlike training with a group, participants can learn at their own pace, allowing them to stop and review information whenever necessary to ensure that they completely understand the instruction.  Course takers have the option of going through the lessons in full or abbreviated form and can test out of lessons as well, makeing it a timesaver for those recertifying.

Each Blended Learning program course is divided into two sessions.  the first portion of the training is completed online and can be done from any computer that meets the minimum operating system requirements.  For the second part of training, a Red Cross trained instructor will conduct a skills practice and assessment with course takers.  The online session takes approximately two to three hours, depending on the pace of the student.  The Skills Practice and Assessment session takes approximately two hours, depending on the particular course being assessed.

"One of the Chapter's strategic goals is to train at least 10,000 people in CPR and AED annually, working toward a community preparenedness goal of at least one person trained in every household on Cape Cod and the Islands." - Karen Whiting, Director of Health & Safety Training

According to recent statistics:

• About 75-80 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, so being trained to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one.
• In cities where CPR training is widespread and EMS response and time to defibrillation is short, the survival rate for witnessed VF cardiac arrest is about 30 percent. Whereas, in cities where few victims receive bystander CPR and time to EMS response and defibrillation is longer, survival from sudden VF cardiac a rrest averages 1-2 percent, proving that bystander training in these skills is critical.

Public access to AED equipment has grown tremendously since fenderal funding initiatives began.  Many private and public facilities now have the equipment, but training efforts need to continue with a focus on extended training for the general public.

Karen Whiting, Director of Health and Safety Training: "One of the Chapter's strategic goals is to train at least 10,000 people in CPR and AED annually, working toward a community preparenedness goal of at least one person trained in every household on Cape Cod and the Islands.  I am very excited about this new blended learning option, because we're all busy people and this will allow more people to be trained on their own time, using interactive tools."

Certifications for Blended Learning courses have the same validity periods as the standard courses.  Costs are dependent on the training being offered and are comparable to regular training.

For registration or for more information about these training options, please visit www.capecodandislandsredcross.org, call toll free at 1-888-762-1928 or 508-775-1540 or write to American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, 286 South Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.

Release courtesy of the Cape Cod and Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross.