ATTENTION! - ONLINE ONLY CPR CARDS ARE NOT VALID!
Beware of online websites promoting CPR completion cards.
Would you want your physician practicing critical surgical techniques on a keyboard? 

Adapting to Covid-19 guidelines and understanding workplace compliance standards has been a struggle for many businesses and employees. We understand and are here to support you in staying current on required CPR training certifications. State and Federal Laws require many types of organizations and employees to be "hands-on" CPR certified, including, but not limited to child-care workers, all medical professionals, dentists, pharmacists, nursing students, and EMT's. Construction companies are also required to have at least one person CPR certified at each job site.  State and federal grace periods on expired certifications have now lapsed. In-person CPR training is once again being required and in-person CPR training is considered an essential service.

Since March, many people have completed online-only CPR classes believing these courses would satisfy certification requirements. Online only CPR classes are not accepted without a "hands-on" skills training completed with a certified instructor.  Portions of CPR training may be completed via online video courses, but you MUST complete a practical segment to certify your skills. Hands-on training on a manikin is a critical demonstration of competency.  

If you have already completed an online course, you can still attend a CPR skills check to validate your card. We offer 30-minute skills check appointments on the same days we conduct local classes. Once you pass the instructor-led skills check you may receive a BestCPRUSA card valid for two years. We can also issue American Heart Association cards (for an additional expense) if you have completed the American Heart Association's online video training and provide us with a copy of your test completion certificate. 

Because in-person training will always be the best (and only) successful way to learn CPR, we are traveling to companies and schools again to conduct in-person training. For companies who are not returning to the workplace soon, we are offering virtual training options. Our existing corporate and educational clients who have already trained with us in the past may be eligible for virtual, instructor-led courses.

​Please contact us for more information.   info@bestcprseattle.com




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Over the past decade AED's have become much more readily available to the general public, and if you have taken one of our CPR classes you know that many gyms, dental offices, community centers, churches, and even some supermarkets may have a defibrillator for anyone to use. However, it has always been of great concern to us that many AED's are not checked frequently enough, and we regularly find units in public have expired pads and low batteries. 

Most offices DO NOT have a regular maintenance plan for their AED and have not assigned someone to check the unit consistently. A recent security review of a major King County school district found that nearly 40% of their AED's were not ready for use.  The national average is above 45% of AED's are not checked and maintained often enough to be assured they will function as needed.

When was the last time anyone in your office checked the AED? - Who's job is it ????

AED"S save lives everyday and there is no reason to be afraid to check if the pads need replacement. YOU CAN DO IT! After all, the machine is there to save your life and has been purchased for EVERYONE'S USE!  

Checking AED's is a simple process. The pads have an expiration date clearly labeled on the foil covering.  DO NOT OPEN THE FOIL TO LOOK AT THE PADS, THE EXPIRATION DATE IS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FOIL. Most models require pad replacement every two years. Some more advanced models have longer expiration dates, also clearly labeled on the pads in plain view. Simply open the unit's cover or case and look at the pads. 

AED batteries also weaken over time and typically last 4-6 years at most. All AED's have some indicator, either a green flashing light, a green arrow, a battery indicator bar,  or similar icon which will tell you the battery is active. When in doubt, simply turning the unit on will tell you if the battery is low. The machine CANNOT shock you unless both pads are actually on a victim of SCA, (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) so it is perfectly acceptable to test the unit by turning it on. AGAIN, DO NOT OPEN THE FOIL ON THE PADS!

Ordering new pads and batteries is a simple process by searching online. We also HIGHLY recommend replacing older AED's (older than 10 years) with a newer unit. Older AED's did not have nearly the same quality or degree of rescue capability as newer models. Some units are also difficult to find current replacement parts, and replacement items may already be past expiration dates.  A few older models were also not designed to last more than ten years.

​Not sure what to do? Give us a call, we are here to help!