What Is The Difference?

[michael2005]

I was wanting to obtain my CPR/AED certification but, I was informed red cross will not work it has to be aha.

WHY??????????????

[btroutm]

Does Red Cross have a "Healthcare Provider" level?

Also, AHA is highly involved in many areas of medicine, including prehospital care. They are responsible for various advanced classes, including ACLS and PALS.

[michael2005]

Red Cross has a program called "CPR/FIRST AID FOR THE PROFESSIONAL RESCUER"

[ptfd19]

yes, the ARC has "CPR for the Professional Rescuer" that is very similar to "Healthcare Provider" but it depends on your local medical control protocols.

in this area we need the AHA because that's what the medical control decided we need to follow.

For a "user" standpoint, the AHA is "more proper" for the EMS related fields because of the ACLS, PALS, etc

[thebigcheese]

Originally posted by ptfd19
For a "user" standpoint, the AHA is "more proper" for the EMS related fields because of the ACLS, PALS, etc

Which in my book is a load of bull. Its just another instance of people following the money.

[SafetyPro]

There's very little significant difference between the AHA BLS for the Healthcare Provider and the ARC CPR for the Professional Rescuer programs. Both are based on the ECC 2000 guidelines and both have the same ultimate end result. Having held both certifications (currently have the AHA) and being an ARC instructor, yes, there are a few differences in the order of the steps and some techniques, but they're minimal IMO.

The biggest difference is that the AHA is a two-year cert and the ARC is a one-year cert, which is why I choose the AHA cert even though I'm an ARC instructor. This is the biggest reason I've heard in this area for why people choose AHA over ARC. As far as my department's concerned, I could hold either one.

[IAMedic]

Originally posted by michael2005
I was wanting to obtain my CPR/AED certification but, I was informed red cross will not work it has to be aha.

WHY??????????????

Politics, my friend...plain and simple. The ARC does some great stuff, but senior management at the very top has been very corrupted and impressionable by local communities they support. They refuse to change their policy on CPR because they are afraid it will look like they are conceding and might possibly lose more money to the AHA. The only professional group that uses ARC for CPR is lifeguards, that I know of.

I would like to see the ARC and AHA put differences aside and make a standardized CPR format, but no one will take the initiative because they are afraid of the political backwash that might happen. They don't understand that if you uniform CPR you would have twice the CPR classes and might be able to actually fill some ARC CPR classes.

So, to end my tirade. It's nothing more than politics. Most physicians don't care what CPR classes you take because most of them have never, EVER, been CPR trained. And to say that one is better than the other is ludicrous. I have never seen any statistics to show that ARC CPR has saved more people the AHA or vice versa. Thanks for the question.

[Ridryder911]

As mentioned before both are set from standards of the ECC. The Heart Association is a major research contributor of these standards. Most medical institutions recognize this as .. physicians are familar with the research and & forum of AHA cardiac & brain/stroke resucitation standards. The development of standards & procedures fo cardiac care (not only emergency but long-term as well) Cardiac catherization ,diet, research of medication & drugs. The AHA is recognized as medical based organization where as ARC is considered a more for voulnteer based organization(s) that adopts the AHA standards to teach common laymen.
I have worked at various hospitals, none of them utilized ARC. They may reognize it, but require AHA as soon as possible. I believe JCAHO (creditlization for hospitals) requires AHA.
Be safe
Ridryder911
R.N.,CCRN,CEN,CCEMT/P, NREMT/P