The American Heart Association is committed to a world where everyone can live a longer, healthier life. As a science-based organization that cares about public health, we are following the most conservative guidelines available among leading global, national, state, and local public health authorities regarding closures and large gatherings related to COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
We want to provide additional information about this public health threat as it relates to any training being implemented throughout your area. Please review the below resources and guidelines:
- In accordance with the guidelines released by your local government, evaluate the risk of disease transmission in your area before organizing any training events and take necessary precautions to avoid transmission.
- Review the Training Memo sent on March 10, 2020 with recommended instructional changes including additions to equipment and decontamination procedures during this time.
- Review the Interim Guidance on Card Extensions document sent out on March 13, 2020 about Instructor and provider card extension considerations. The AHA:
- Recommends employers and regulatory bodies consider extending recognition of an AHA Provider Card beyond its renewal date, for up to 60 days. However, please know that it is ultimately up to the discretion of employers and regulatory bodies who require current AHA Provider Cards to allow extensions during this time.
- Extends the validity of AHA Instructor cards for 60 days for those who are unable to conduct training due to COVID-19.
- If you are a healthcare provider, review the document, Interim Guidance for Healthcare Providers during COVID-19 Outbreak and our new podcast, Insights from King County/Seattle EMS
- Consider offering HeartCode® courses or adopting RQI® (Resuscitation Quality Improvement).
- During this time of increased concern with public gathering, HeartCode courses and RQI may be an option for your organization. Both solutions are self-learning resuscitation programs and will allow your staff to maintain critically important High-Quality CPR competence through individual activities that preserve social distancing. Both programs achieve competence without the need to be away from the bedside in a classroom setting.
- For students taking HeartCode who cannot attend an instructor-led skills session during this time, they can consider completing the online portion of the course, then complete the skills session when training schedules return to normal. Please note, there is no time limit for completing a hands-on skills session following completion of the online portion of the course.
The AHA is closely monitoring and evaluating this situation. We will communicate with you as new developments occur and continue to be a resource. As a reminder, the AHA advises all AHA Training Centers and Instructors to follow the existing recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , as well as the guidance of national, state, and local public health authorities, which will have the most up-to-date facts and will provide information on basic protective measures against COVID-19.
Please continue to check your email and notifications placed on the COVID-19 CPR & Resuscitation Resources webpage and the AHA Instructor Network for the latest guidance and possible updates to AHA training policies.
Thank you for everything that you do to contribute to the AHA mission.
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