Basic First Aid and CPR

The Basic First Aid and CPR course from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides essential emergency medical response skills at the introductory level. This is the shorter, more focused companion to the comprehensive Basic Life Support and First Aid course: while BLS/FA covers the full spectrum of emergency medical response, this Basic First Aid and CPR course concentrates on the core life-saving skills every person should know: recognising emergencies, calling for help, performing CPR, using an AED, responding to choking, controlling bleeding, and providing basic wound, burn, and fracture care.

The curriculum covers emergency recognition and response activation, adult CPR technique (compression depth, rate, ratio), AED awareness (pad placement, following prompts), choking response (abdominal thrusts), bleeding control (direct pressure), basic wound care, burn treatment (cool, cover), fracture recognition and immobilisation awareness, and when to call emergency services. All training is delivered 100% online through the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS. Note: hands-on CPR skills verification with a manikin may be additionally required by employers.

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Recognise emergencies and activate response: assessing scene safety, checking responsiveness, calling emergency services, and the immediate actions that begin the chain of survival.
• Perform adult CPR: hand placement, compression depth (at least 2 inches), rate (100–120/min), 30:2 ratio, and the high-quality compressions that sustain blood flow until professional help arrives.
• Use an AED: powering on, placing pads, following voice prompts, delivering shocks, and the AED confidence that overcomes the hesitation most bystanders feel.
• Respond to choking: recognising choking (hands to throat, inability to speak/cough), abdominal thrusts (Heimlich), and the response that clears airway obstruction.
• Control bleeding: direct pressure, wound elevation, and the basic bleeding control that prevents life-threatening blood loss.
• Provide basic wound and burn care: cleaning wounds, applying dressings, cooling burns with water, covering burns, and the basic care that prevents infection and reduces pain.

Core Topics

• Emergency Recognition: scene safety, responsiveness check, EMS activation
• Adult CPR: hand placement, depth, rate, 30:2 ratio, quality
• AED: power on, pads, prompts, shock, CPR integration
• Choking: recognition, abdominal thrusts, unconscious choking
• Bleeding Control: direct pressure, elevation, tourniquet awareness
• Wound Care: cleaning, dressing, infection prevention
• Burns: cool with water, cover, severity assessment
• Fractures: recognition, immobilisation awareness, do not move
• When to Call EMS: decision criteria, information to provide

• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, professional wallet card, and official transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• All employees in every workplace
• General public seeking basic life-saving skills
• Parents and caregivers
• Anyone who wants essential first aid and CPR knowledge

• Basic First Aid and CPR — YOU ARE HERE (essentials)
• Basic Life Support and First Aid (comprehensive BLS/FA)
• Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP exposure during first aid)
• Certified First Aid Trainer (trainer certification)