If you are looking to get your cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification, it is best to choose a CPR training providers with proven expertise. This allows the individual to become CPR certified quickly while allowing the individual to learn the proper methods to administer life-saving assistance to those suffering sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Cardiac arrest is an electrical irregularity of the heart which occurs due to a irregular heartbeat. When cardiac arrest occurs, the pumping action of the heart is disrupted which prevents the heart allowing blood to go the brain, lungs, and other organs. This is what causes the cardiac arrest victim to become unresponsive. if the individual does not receive CPR in a few minutes after cardiac arrest then they can die.
The American Heart Association (AHA)  states that cardiac arrest effect greater than 350,000 individuals annually. Further the AHA has reported that the average survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims is 12 percent. The AHA  has additionally indicated that only about one in three cardiac arrest victims survives when a cardiac arrest incident is witnessed by a bystander.
In some situations cardiac arrest can be mistaken for a heart attack. But cardiac arrest and heart attack are two completely different medical emergencies. Unlike cardiac arrest, a heart attack occurs when there is a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart. Subsequently, it is the the heart attack that can lead to cardiac arrest. The heart attack may be further defined as the death of heart muscle tissue as a result of the loss of blood supply.
If your CPR trained, then you will know how to respond to cardiac emergencies. The individual will then have the skills to provide life-saving assistance to increase the cardiac arrest of heart attack victim's chance of survival.

Why Should You Become CPR-Certified?
For the cost of a single CPR class, an individual can contribute greatly to their local community. CPR training provides significant value to individuals of all ages. The training provides the individual with the tools to support emergency care victims until advanced medical personnel have arrived. CPR training can subsequently enable anyone to actually save lives.
A normal CPR training class will provide the student with knowledge regarding the following topics:

• Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions
• Use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and special considerations
• Identification and aid for conscious and unconscious choking victims

Over the course of a few hours, the student will be provided instruction by a medical professional such as a firefighter, EMT, nurse, or paramedic, who will teach the students about the mentioned topics while also responding to student's questions. The instructor will also provide a combination of hands-on and classroom lessons allowing the students to gain the practical skills necessary to use in a variety of medical emergencies.

Why Should You Choose Help-A-Heart CPR for CPR Training?
When it comes to choosing a CPR class there are a few factors to consider:

• Expertise: The CPR training provider should use instructors with knowledge and expertise who understand how to administer CPR in emergencies and have actually performed CPR in real life.
• Flexibility: The CPR training provider should have CPR classes on different days and at different times throughout the week.
• Reputation: The CPR training provider should have a positive reputation in the community, one that is built on the hard work and dedication of its staff.

CPR classes are available in many locations throughout the United States allowing individuals to locate classes without having to conduct an expansive search. However, it the expertise, flexibility, and reputation of such training center as Help-A-Heart CPR that you should search for.
Help-A-Heart CPR is a top provider of CPR classes in South-Central Texas and San Antonio. while offering a convenient training schedule with weekday and weekend classes. Our CPR classes are also designed for student's of all ages. The classes encourage collaboration and engagement and enable student's to enjoy a dynamic learning experience.
The question is: Can you afford to NOT enroll in a CPR class?. With Help-A-Heart CPR, individuals can receive extensive CPR training while gaining the medical skills needed to offer CPR and/or First Aid assistance to anyone  experiencing cardiac arrest. 
To learn more about Help-A-Heart CPR and our CPR classes, please call us at 210-380-5344.

While most people have some type of first aid kit in their home; many people are lacking a first aid kit in their automobile.
Having a well-stocked and ready-to-use first aid kit is one of the best ways you can prepare for emergencies. Medical emergencies may occur near a car while only makes it that more important to carry a first aid kit with you at all times. First Aid kits can be pre-purchased, however, the ability to customize your first kit yourself is a great advantage.
In this article, we will review the items that you need to keep in the first aid kit in your car.

1. Find a Container to Hold Your First Aid Items. Look for a container or box as opposed to a plastic or paper bag. When purchasing the first aid container also look for one that comes with transparent inner compartments so you can have a clear view of the items inside. Also, look for a light-weight tackle box with handles, and never put a padlock on your kit because you will need to get to it quickly in an emergency.
2. Begin Buying Essential First Aid Items. The following is a list of first aid items that you should always have in the first aid kit in your car:

• Cotton balls
• Cotton swabs
• Vaseline
• A digital thermometer
• Safety pins for closing bandages
• Adhesive tape
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic and hydrocortisone cream 
• Antihistamine for allergic reactions
• Antiseptic wipes to sanitize your hands
• Aspirin, Ibuprofen, or other pain relieving medication
• Aloe Vera to treat mild burns
• Sunscreen
• Insect bite relief pads
• Adhesive Band-Aids for covering cuts
• Gauze pads for treating wounds
• Tweezers
• Curved scissors
• A needle
• Hand sanitizer
• Saline solution for eye washing or cleaning wounds 

    3. Make Sure You Have Items for Serious Emergencies.  The following are items that you may need to use in medical emergencies such as choking, cardiac arrest, drowning, severe allergic reactions, and car accidents.​

• Hot and cold packs
• Synthetic gloves to manage and treat more serious wounds
• A CPR mask for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Epi-Pen for severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
• Bio-hazard bag for disposing contaminated items

Have you thought about being a lifeguard or interested in a summer job working as a lifeguard?
The role of the lifeguard is extremely important as they can truly make a difference. The U.S. Lifesaving Association (USLA) has indicated that the chance that a person will drown while attending a beach protected by a USLA-affiliated lifeguard is 1 in 18 million – or less than 1%. On the contrary, the International Life Saving Federation has stated that approximately 1.2 million people, or more than two people every minute, will die annually due to drowning. These statistics highlight the importance of lifeguards in helping drowning victims and delivering emergency assistance. 

While becoming a lifeguard does have a great deal of responsibility, it is also exciting and rewarding to become part of a team whose job is to allow people to have fun and enjoy their time in the water in a safe fashion.
With that in mind, let's examine three things that prospective lifeguards to become aware of before they actually become lifeguards.

1. Lifeguards Require Extensive Training.
The American Red Cross provides many lifeguard training classes that teach you how to recognize and prevent injuries, rescue skills that are necessary both in water and on land and life-saving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. Additionally, the Red Cross requires individuals to be at least 15 years old before enrolling in a lifeguard class. The Red Cross also mandates that individuals pass a pre-course swimming skills test prior to signing up for a lifeguard class. If you intend to become a lifeguard, enroll in the best training available. That way, you can gain the real-world skills that you’ll need to administer critical assistance in emergencies.

2. Lifeguards must be ready to handle a wide range of emergencies.
Lifeguards must be capable of providing support in many types of emergencies, including the following:

• Breathing: In a breathing emergency, a lifeguard is expected to give ventilations, remove airway obstructions and use oxygen  delivery devices.
• Cardiac: A lifeguard will need to know about the cardiac chain of survival, as well as how to assist cardiac arrest and heart attack victims.
• First Aid: A lifeguard must be able to act quickly and effectively to respond to injuries and illnesses. 

3. Being a Lifeguard, everyday is different.
When a lifeguard is on duty, many various things can occur occurring a medical crisis or emergency that requires basic level or advanced medical care. As a lifeguard, it is important to constantly search for ways to always improve and ensure time devoted to maintaining his or her training certifications. Not only does this allow the lifeguard to be consistent with the latest lifesaving techniques, but also exposes the individual to extensive expertise in administering life-saving techniques.
Training programs are available that allow lifeguards to become certified in a number of areas, including:

• Basic First Aid: Teaches individuals how to perform assessments and interventions with minimal to no medical equipment.
• Basic Life Support (BLS): Emphasizes the administration of CPR on adults, children and infants and focuses on the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), how to assist choking victims and other emergency response topics.

Becoming a lifeguard can be extremely rewarding while allowing you to gain experience that will transfer into other positions you have throughout your professional career. Enroll in a life-saving training program today, and you can make that first step to becoming a professional lifeguard.