The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is excited to announce its new role as an authorized provider of American Red Cross courses, bringing essential life-saving training directly to healthcare professionals. This collaboration marks a significant step in empowering physical therapists and other healthcare providers with the critical skills needed to respond effectively in emergency situations.
In its first year as a provider, APTA is launching the American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) hybrid CPR course. This comprehensive course combines the flexibility of online learning with the practical experience of an in-person skills review session. Registration is open from April 15th to May 31st, with limited spots available for 36 participants, highlighting the demand for high-quality CPR training within the healthcare community.
This BLS CPR course is meticulously designed to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to confidently manage breathing and cardiac emergencies in patients of all ages – adults, children, and infants. The blended learning approach ensures participants can learn the theoretical aspects at their own pace online, accessible via desktop, mobile, or tablet, before attending a mandatory instructor-led skills session. Upon successful completion, participants will not only receive a valuable two-year Basic Life Support digital certificate but also gain access to their certificate and training history anytime, anywhere through the Red Cross Learning Center (redcrosslearningcenter.org). It is advisable for learners to verify specific license requirements and continuing education unit allowances for CPR courses with their state licensing boards, and resources for state contact information are conveniently provided by the FSBPT.
This crucial course is exclusively available to healthcare providers, whether they are APTA members or non-members, excluding support or administrative staff. The online component offers flexibility in scheduling, while the mandatory in-person skills session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4th, at the APTA Centennial Center in Alexandria, Virginia. Participants can choose between a morning cohort (9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) or an afternoon cohort (2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.) for the in-person session, accommodating various schedules.
For those enrolling in this vital training, please note the in-person CPR Skills Lab will be held at the APTA Centennial Center on Tuesday, June 4th, specifically from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Why Choose APTA for Your American Red Cross BLS CPR Certification?
Choosing APTA as your authorized provider offers benefits beyond standard American Red Cross BLS CPR certification. This course uniquely integrates real-world scenarios relevant to the physical therapy profession. Participants will learn from certified American Red Cross instructors who bring years of experience teaching life-saving courses and practical insights into emergency response within healthcare settings.
Imagine a patient experiencing cardiac arrest while on a treadmill. How would you react? Our instructors will share recorded experiences of such events, providing invaluable lessons learned in real-time emergency situations. This course goes beyond basic certification, prompting critical thinking about emergency preparedness in various healthcare environments. What should your front-desk staff do in an emergency? What if you are the only responder available? These essential questions and scenarios will be explored, preparing you to act decisively and effectively when it matters most.
Meet Your Expert Instructors
Tara Jo Manal, PT, DPT, FAPTA
With over two decades of experience, Tara Jo Manal brings extensive expertise in emergency first response, CPR, AED, O2 administration, and BLS training. Her background includes directing neurologic, older adult, sports, and orthopedic outpatient physical therapy clinics for nearly 30 years, where she honed her skills in direct support and administrative oversight of emergency procedures.
Laura Schmitt, PT, DPT, ATC
Laura Schmitt offers over 20 years of experience in teaching and managing on-field and clinical care, including emergency situations. A board-certified clinical specialist in sports and orthopaedic physical therapy, Laura holds the highest teaching credentials from the American Red Cross, ensuring top-tier instruction and practical knowledge transfer.
Melissa Dreger, PT, DPT, MA
Melissa Dreger, a newly certified instructor, complements the team with 17 years of experience as a BLS CPR-certified provider. Also a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy, Melissa serves in both administrative and instructional roles, contributing her diverse skills and practical experience to the course.
Course Instructions:
- Navigate to the Contents tab to access the course recording and begin your online learning journey.
- Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. You have 3 attempts to achieve a passing score of 70% or higher.
- Provide valuable course feedback by clicking Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing. Ensure you scroll through all questions to view all answer options.
- Access and print your certificate anytime by clicking the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. Your certificate is also conveniently available in the APTA Learning Center under the CEU Certificate/Transcript link.
Need Assistance?
For login support, activity access, credit claiming, or any other inquiries, please contact [email protected].
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Accessing Your Online Modules
Open to download resource. Instructions to access your online modules. Note: Online training must be completed by midnight on Monday, June 3rd to attend the in-person skills session. You must register to access.
Course Overview
Open to download resource. You must register to access.
In-Person Skills Lab
06/04/2024 at 2:00 PM (EDT) | 210 minutes | Attendance Required. Held June 4, 2024 from 2-5:30 p.m. at APTA Centennial Center. You must register to access.
Course Evaluation
15 Questions. You must register to access.
CEU Certificate
Up to 0.40 contact hours available | Certificate available. Download and save certificate for future use. You must register to access.
