ARC FA/CPR/AED, BLS, & EMR

Hello,

I am 14 years old and have a strong interest in EMS/Emergency Medicine. Next year, I will be joining my high school's sports medicine club, which is part of the NHSSM. I currently hold a Red Cross Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certificate, and would like to know if Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers or Emergency Medical Response would be useful for someone my age.

BLS for Healthcare Providers is simply adult/pediatric CPR/AED and choking. It also expires every couple years, so there's no sense in getting it until you have to for a job. The important thing about bystander CPR is knowing the basics and being willing to do it when appropriate, not caring the proper laminated card from the AHA/ARC/YMCA/Girl Scouts of America.

Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) is a bit more, and I could see it being interesting as a foundational course. Check how old you have to be to take the registry examination for EMR.

Enjoy and good luck, and don't take things too seriously yet! Go have fun in HS and take your time getting to EMS. For what it's worth, I had a ton of fun working as a lifeguard all through HS. Check that out if you'd like a bit of "experience" and a fun summer job if you're comfortable in the water.

I applaud your persistence and dedication.




...when I was 14 I was too busy sneaking beers out of my dads fridge.

I taught the Emergency Response course at ARC for several years. It's basicly a first responder course that a lot of "pre emt" students in the Seattle area would take. It was a decent little advanced first aid course, with O2 admin and backboard skills added.

I second the idea of becoming a life guard.

The American Red Cross Emergency Medical Response course states that prior certification in CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers/Healthcare Providers is required before taking the class. Also, successful completion of the course awards you with the following certificates: BLS for Healthcare Providers, Emergency Medical Response, Blood borne Pathogens, and Administrating Emergency Oxygen. It is 51 hours in length (6 consecutive days).

Also, California does not recognize EMR/MFR's as a valid EMS credential.

What are your thoughts for someone like me (14) to pay $400 and receive this training? (Also all 4 certificates are valid for 1-2 years at most.)

Don't do it focus on your high school studies and if you really want to do something consider becoming a lifeguard instead. You can do that before turning 18 and it will look good on a resume in the future as previous employment

Paya Hatam said:

What are your thoughts for someone like me (14) to pay $400 and receive this training? (Also all 4 certificates are valid for 1-2 years at most.)

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Pointless. Take a lifeguard class.

$400 is a lot of money to spend on a certification that your state doesn't even recognize.


Just wait until your 18 and get your EMT.

Have fun, if that means a bls for health care providers, go for it. With the caveat that there are folks out there who are unscrupulous, so buyer be cautious. But don't loose your momentum, if this is something that you enjoy, rock on and don't let anyone discourage you... Especially old craggy burnt out folks that can't remember when it was just plain old fun to be helpful.

MedicMan said:

Have fun, if that means a bls for health care providers, go for it. With the caveat that there are folks out there who are unscrupulous, so buyer be cautious. But don't loose your momentum, if this is something that you enjoy, rock on and don't let anyone discourage you... Especially old craggy burnt out folks that can't remember when it was just plain old fun to be helpful.

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I hope you're not talking about me

I'm all about education, but it's pointless for a 14 year old to take a first responder class. Those classes are designed primary for people who need first responder training for their job. Security guards, industrial responders and the like.

A 14 year old with an interest in EMS can become an explorer, take a life guard course or just take a CPR class. $400 for a red cross first responder class is just a waste.

The kid asked for opinions on if the class was of use and I believe, as a former ARC emergency response instructor, it's not.

Take a plain old CPR course. Don't waste $400 on an EMR course unless you have a job or are volunteering. Do well in school, go to college, and somewhere along the line take an EMT course, maybe even for college credit. Then go to medical school and become an emergency room physician.

Hey Man! I'm 14 as well and I'm really into EMS and Emergency Medicine. I'm already certified ARC FA/CPR/AED as well as Healthcare Provider CPR from the AHA. My EMR class finishes up in a few weeks. It's a great course and I highly recommend it. It's a great foundational course that talks about patient assessment, backboarding, oxygen, airway adjuncts, suctioning, splinting, obstetrics, basic meds, EMS ops etc. It teaches most EMT skills but doesn't go that far in depth with regards to anatomy and physiology (knowing how to recognize and respond to something medical rather than knowing much about what is actually causing it in the body - stopping the clock before an ambulance gets there). I play three sports and am pretty busy with school and this course requires just the right amount of time and study (the EMR course is around 40-50 hours long). Also, check to see if your area has a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) unit. They usually take younger members. The CERT class teaches basic fire suppression, sheltering, light search and rescue, as well as basic disaster medical operations. I'm a member of both and it really helped me get involved. I've done many first aid standbys at large events with the MRC. With CERT, I responded to a hurricane and assisted with sheltering, as well as a major blizzard and worked at an EOC. Lastly, check to see if there is a Fire or EMS exploring post near you. The explorer post is where I started taking the EMR class and even after I finish, I can go in every few weeks with a lot of other people my age and get to polish up skills, run scenarios and drills, play with some sweet equipment (we are all wackers deep inside), and get to just talk with the EMTs and Paramedics and get an idea about what the job is like. Pretty soon, all of us are going on ride alongs too. I'll leave a few links below about CERT, MRC, and Fire/EMS exploring. I see you are from LA County. The LACoFD has a big exploring program and I know the City of LA has a REALLY big CERT program. Btw - all of this looks great on college applications (;

Best of luck,
Ben

https://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams
http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/be-a-firefighter/explorer-program/
http://www.cert-la.com/
https://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/HomePage

Medical Reserve Corps and CERT in my area are either for people over the age of 18 or are too far away from where I live. To be honest, CERT stuff is really common sense.

I was originally thinking of joining the LACoFD explorers, but decided it wouldn't be useful/helpful, because I will not join the fire service in the future.

Paya Hatam said:

To be honest, CERT stuff is really common sense.

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It is true that a lot of what is covered in CERT training is common sense. However, is cribbing common sense? Search patterns for search and rescue? Use of standpipes? Triage in an MCI? HAZMAT identification? You get the idea. In CERT, you get to learn a lot of great stuff and practice it too. Maybe start a club at school? They do have Teen CERT.

I understand that it requires practice, in order to be physically and mentally retained.

And how do you have so much time to dedicate to MRC, CERT, EMS exploring, and school?

Are lay responders (Adult & Pediatric FA/CPR/AED) required to carry their printed certificates, in order to respond and help with emergencies?

Paya Hatam said:

Are lay responders (Adult & Pediatric FA/CPR/AED) required to carry their printed certificates, in order to respond and help with emergencies?

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Nope, nor are they required to respond.

Fire Explorer for LSCoFD could be more interesting than you think. 80% of what fire does is EMS. Also, who knows, maybe you'd find an interest in fire.

Lifeguarding is a great option and outside of the initial ARC lifeguard course employers will usually I've you continuing education or further training for free and possibly even pay you to do it.

With that said I do not think 400$ is worth it for someone in your situation.

Again, I know for sure that I will not be becoming a firefighter. Should I become an EMT-B first, then go to medical school to become a Emergency Physician, or not?

Also, I checked with my city's CERT program (run by the police department), and they only allow people over the age of 18 to join. However, a neighboring city does offer level III training for ages 13-18. Should I join this program?

Check out your county or adjacent county's Search and Rescue team, many of them have junior/cadet programs for teenager.
My county (Contra Costa) takes 14 or higher, physically fit and with clean background.

You will participated in actual searches once completed required trainings, and they often sponsor you for EMR or WFR classes.