ProACT Critical Care Academy

Overview

This course equips participants with the knowledge and skills to quickly assess recognize and care for cardiac arrest provide high-quality CPR and use an AED to optimize patient outcomes. Designed for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital healthcare clinicians this training is consistent with the 2025 evidence-based science guidelines and covers additional life-threatening emergencies including respiratory arrest drowning opioid overdose myocardial infarction life-threatening bleeding and obstructed airway in adults children and infants. Participants complete an online course followed by an in-person session led by a Red Cross-certified instructor that includes knowledge-based learning and hands-on skill practice. Participants are required to successfully complete the online course and final exam and demonstrate skill competency during skills practice and testing scenarios to earn an American Red Cross Basic Life Support certificate valid for two years.

Prerequisites

• None

Required Course Materials

• Adult/Child CPR Mask
• Infant CPR Mask
• BLS Participant's Manual (free, digital version available)

Completion Requirements

In order to receive a BLS completion certificate, participants must:

• Read the current Basic Life Support Participant’s Manual.
• Successfully complete the online session (link provided after enrollment) and pass the online final exam with a minimum score of 84 percent
• Attend the entire in-person session, actively participating in all lessons and activities, including assuming various roles during skill practices and scenarios. Students more than 15 minutes late will not be eligible to receive a certificate.
• Demonstrate responsibility and professionalism.
• Demonstrate competency in all required skills.
• Successfully participate in two testing scenarios and pass one testing scenario as a team leader.

Learning Objectives

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival and how each link contributes to improving survival from cardiac arrest. ▪
2. Apply teamwork skills, prioritizing interprofessional teamwork and communication during cardiac emergencies through simulated multiple-responder scenarios.
3. Integrate feedback on performance in CPR technique, emphasizing continuous improvement in skills, knowledge retention and team building. ▪
4. Articulate the importance of high-quality CPR and its impacts on survival. ▪
5. Demonstrate high-quality CPR for adults, children and infants, including chest compressions and ventilations with a barrier device. ▪
6. Explain the purpose of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and how it can improve survival from cardiac arrest. ▪
7. Demonstrate how to effectively use an AED in conjunction with CPR for adults, children and infants. ▪
8. Describe identification and management of life-threatening conditions that can lead to cardiac arrest in adults, children and infants. ▪
9. Examine the potential differences in basic life support care for adults, children and infants. ▪
10. Recognize the signs of choking and initial actions needed for adults, children and infants. ▪
11. Perform appropriate techniques to relieve choking in adults, children and infants.

View official course fact sheet here.

Intended Audience

The American Red Cross BLS course is designed for responders and professional healthcare clinicians who directly care for patients in a variety of settings and who could be called on to care for a critically ill patient.

This could include, but is not limited to:

• Medical personnel, such as dentists, nurses, nurse assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physical therapists, physicians, physician assistants and students entering these fields.
• Public safety personnel and other professional responders, such as advanced emergency medical technicians (AEMTs), emergency medical responders (EMRs), emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighters, law enforcement, paramedics and students entering these fields.
• Paramedical professionals who may be called on in an emergency such as medical office staff, medical transporters and individuals who work closely with medically complex patients.

Details

• Credits: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (5.00 hours), AAPA Category 1 Credits (5.00 hours), ADA CERP Continuing Education Credits (5.00 hours), ASWB Social Workers (5.00 hours), BOC CEU (5.00 hours), CDR CPEU Dieticians (5.00 hours), Commission on Accreditation For Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE)-Basic (7.50 hours), Continuing Pharmacy Education Contact Hours (5.00 hours), Nursing Continuing Professional Development Contact Hours (5.00 hours)
  
• Modes of instruction: Blended learning (Combines the flexibility of online training with instructor-led skills check; start taking your online portion immediately)
• Accreditation: See details here.
• Additional Information: I understand that the American Red Cross as a requirement of CAPCE accreditation will submit a record of my course completions to the CAPCE AMS. I further understand that my course completion records may be accessed by or shared with such regulators as state EMS offices, training officers, and NREMT on a password-protected need-to-know basis. In addition, I understand that I may review my record of CAPCE accredited course completions by contacting CAPCE.
  
• Cancellation Policy: ProACT Academy reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded and an option to reschedule will be provided. We are not responsible for other costs incurred such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties. See full policy here.
• Accessibility Statement: ProACT Academy is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you have needs that require special accommodations, including dietary concerns, please contact your instructor.

Continuing Education

The Red Cross Continuing Education Program is proud to provide accredited CE credit for these programs based on up-to-date evidence-based guidelines to optimize outcomes of patients. The American Red Cross is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. The American Red Cross is an accredited provider of continuing education by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE).

To receive continuing education credit in Resuscitation and Critical Care courses, please Claim CE within 45 days of course completion.

View more information on certification and continuing education.

Policies

Cancellation Policy:

1. 1. More than 2 weeks before the class session: Students may cancel without any penalty.
      
   2. Between 2 weeks and 48 hours before the class session: A cancellation fee of 50% of the session price will be charged.
      
   3. Less than 48 hours before the class session or no-show: The full session price will be charged.
      

Rescheduling Policy:

1. 1. Up to 48 hours before the class session: Students may reschedule to another class session without penalty. Note that rescheduling may not be possible for all classes.
      
      1. Rescheduling may not be possible if it compromises the ability to conduct the class due to low enrollment.
         
      2. ProACT Academy reserves the right to deny reschedule requests on this basis.
   2. Less than 48 hours before the class session: Rescheduling requests will be subject to the same conditions as cancellations, with the full session price being charged if the student does not show up or cancels within this period. Rescheduling is not possible within this 48 hour window.
      

No-Show Policy:

1. 1. Any student who does not attend an enrolled class without prior notice or a request for change or cancellation is not entitled to a refund, credit, voucher, or transfer to another class. Students who arrive more than 15 minutes late will be considered no-show.
      
   2. Under no circumstances will a refund, change, or voucher be granted if there is no notice of absence before the class or a student arrives more than 15 minutes late of the posted start time.
      
   3. Notice of 48 hours or more must be given to be eligible for a refund or rescheduling. Without such notice, the funds are forfeited, and the student must re-enroll in a new class.

Note: Only enrolled students may be present for the class.