Who/Where to take First Aid/CPR/AED certification classes -- Plus BLS/ALS

I am going for my PADI rescue diver certification in a few months and I need to get certified for First Aid/CPR/AED. Full disclosure: I used to be an EMT (20+ years ago), not that it means anything anymore, other than I am trying to not sit through a super basic, make me want to hit myself with a hammer, class. I will probably have my wife go as well since she has never been CPR certified before and its good for everyone to know.

I know I can just hop on the American Red Cross web site and find a local class but I was hoping to get a better recommendation from someone, or give some business to someone on here (cmalliard?). More importantly, I was hoping to find a set of classes that teach Advanced First Responder skills with a national certification (BLS/ALS). Would be nice to get my feet wet again and learn all the new fangled things that bus drivers do nowadays.

Cmailliard

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Originally Posted by asmo

I am going for my PADI rescue diver certification in a few months and I need to get certified for First Aid/CPR/AED. Full disclosure: I used to be an EMT (20+ years ago), not that it means anything anymore, other than I am trying to not sit through a super basic, make me want to hit myself with a hammer, class. I will probably have my wife go as well since she has never been CPR certified before and its good for everyone to know.

I know I can just hop on the American Red Cross web site and find a local class but I was hoping to get a better recommendation from someone, or give some business to someone on here (cmalliard?). More importantly, I was hoping to find a set of classes that teach Advanced First Responder skills with a national certification (BLS/ALS). Would be nice to get my feet wet again and learn all the new fangled things that bus drivers do nowadays.

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Wow I didn't realize until you mentioned it how much I was dreading sitting through a basics class. Been meaning to update my CPR certs a while back but sitting through 6 hours with true beginners can be painful. Tag for more details.

You would have to complete quite a few classes before any NREMT ALS certs are given. Take a basic CPR/AED as dive injuries and how to treat them are much different than land injuries. Although always good to know BLS stuff, they won't be of much help in a dive setting. Focus on your narcosis symptoms, locations of nearest compression chambers, and pressure related injuries. I don't know why, but treating any traumatic injuries while still at depth is not discussed outside a dive medic course.

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Originally Posted by 275RLTW

You would have to complete quite a few classes before any NREMT ALS certs are given.

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I should have been more clear - I don't want NREMT-B/A (or god forbid P) certs. Just something with some national recognition so I can use to to satisfy any requirements if they ever come up. No sense doing a class if you can't use the cert in the future.

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Originally Posted by asmo

I should have been more clear - I don't want NREMT-B/A (or god forbid P) certs. Just something with some national recognition so I can use to to satisfy any requirements if they ever come up. No sense doing a class if you can't use the cert in the future.

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That is NREMT, hense the name "National Registry of ..." Joe Bob's First Aid certificate doesn't mean shit to anyone else but Joe Bob.

The National Outdoor Leadership School offers first aid courses.

They're geared towards treatment in the wilderness.

If you've already got some knowledge, you might look at their Wilderness First Responder course.

http://www.nols.edu/wmi/courses/wildfirstaid.shtml