The Healthy Living Expo is coming up!  Get ready for Knoxville’s largest Health & Fitness Expo.  AND…Guess What??  CPR Choice will be participating this year!  We will be doing live CPR demonstrations as well as teaching classes and handing out information at our booth.  Come visit us and learn “hands-only” CPR and get some information and goodies!  We will also be teaching a Friends & Family class each day of the expo. The class will be $10 and all proceeds will be donated to The American Heart Association.

Friday, Jan 23, 2015 9am-3pm (Family & Friends CPR @ 2PM, click to sign up)
Saturday, Jan 24, 2015 9am-4pm (Family & Friends CPR @ 2PM, click to sign up)

Knoxville Convention Center, Booth #121

Admission to the expo is $10 at the door or FREE if you get your tickets ahead of time.
Seniors FREE on Friday, Children 12 and under FREE

FUN! FIT! FABULOUS and FREE!

The area’s largest event focused on health, fitness, nutrition and living green returns for it’s eleventh year to the Knoxville Convention Center January 23-24, 2015. Over 130 individual companies fill more than 250 exhibits. The Expo continues to grow each year from its launch in 2005 and expects approximately 10,000 visitors!  The Healthy Living Expo offers interactive, educational exhibits, demonstrations and presentations.  Best of all, it is FREE when you get tickets before the doors open.

Some of the features for the 2014 Expo:

• Natural Awakenings Natural Health Pavilion
• Life Saving Skills taught by CPR Choice
• Chiropractic Care Pavilion
• Various Important Health Checks
• Healthy Food Sampling Booths
• Hundreds of prizes given away both days!

FREE WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYERS
Cigna Healthcare takes the lead promoting employee wellness by sponsoring tickets to the expo for any company that registers on The Healthy Living Expo website. Whether you have a handful of employees or one of the largest employers in our region, registration only takes a few minutes at the website, TheHealthyLivingExpo.com then you can offer:

MANY WAYS TO GET FIT and GET HEALTHY!
From natural health products to fitness companies, you will find a plethora of new ways to get fit and get healthy at The Healthy Living Expo, including life saving techniques from CPR Choice!

CPR CHOICE
What could be more important than knowing how to save someone in a life threatening situation? The Expo is proud to have CPR Choice demonstrate on stage some of the techniques you can learn when you take a CPR class. You can even take a class while you are at the expo, so by the time you leave you can be prepared to properly assist someone with life saving skills!

Natural Health Pavilion
This section of The Healthy Living Expo has companies with products and services that have a natural health aspect. Natural Awakenings Magazine, the foremost leader in our community promoting natural health is the sponsor of this area. Everything from household products, nutritional supplements to local green suppliers are found in the pavilion promoting a healthy mind, body and planet.

Chiropractic Care Pavilion
In keeping with the natural health approach to wellness is the Chiropractic Care pavilion. Three top chiropractic health professionals host this section with information about whole body wellness using natural health solutions.

FUN Outdoors
Getting outdoors, taking walks and hikes, visiting local parks are all part of living healthy so the City of Knoxville sponsors this area to inform our community of these available resources. Look for many associations and businesses offering information and products for outdoor fun for the entire family available right here in East Tennessee.

Get FIT with Health Checks
More than a dozen free health checks are available at the Expo. Screenings for allergies, blood pressure and a list of other simple tests will be listed at TheHealthyLivingExpo.com under the health check tab.

FABULOUS FOODS
Local Chef Walter and other experts using healthy products create FABULOUS foods at the Eat Right stage then share samples with visitors.  And after each segment, prizes are drawn for those attending. In addition to the stage presentations, numerous exhibitors offer samples of healthy products.

Get Active to stay FIT!
Fort Sanders Health & Fitness Center takes the lead on this stage with plenty of ideas for getting active. Music fills the area for two days highlighting numerous ways to become more active. Demonstrations are exciting to watch, inviting to participate and created for visitors of all ages.

It is informative and fun!  Come check it out!  This is a prime opportunity to find ideas, products, and services from the many exhibitors! CPR Choice is offering these Family & Friends CPR classes as a public service. All proceeds from this class will be donated directly to the American Heart Association.

The Family & Friends CPR Course teaches the lifesaving skills of adult Hands-Only CPR, child CPR with breaths, adult and child AED use, infant CPR and relief of choking in an adult, child or infant. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment by using the AHA’s research-proven practice-while-watching technique, which provides students with the most hands-on CPR practice time possible.

As electric car sales are continuing to increase, our new CPR Choice office can accommodate your electric car.  So sign up & plug in!

CPR Choice’s new office space located in West Knoxville provides us with a great training space, including a fully equipped training room to accommodate larger classes and a charging space for your electric vehicle.   Knoxville CPR & First Aid classes will begin in our new location next week.  At CPR Choice we continue to look for opportunities to provide our customers with the best training experience available in this area and a convenient option for our eco-friendly customers.

We teach several different American Heart Association and ASHI CPR classes.
Check out our calendar and registration page for more information about our Knoxville CPR classes.
Click here to sign up for a class

CPR course descriptions:
BLS for Healthcare Providers
Heartsaver CPR & AED
Heartsaver First Aid

We think that is about the easiest question we get asked–EVERYONE!  At CPR Choice we believe that everyone should be trained in the life saving skills of CPR & AED.  You never know when you may need to do CPR or give first aid.  Statistics show that if you do need to perform CPR, chances are it will be on someone that you love! Everyone can benefit by being prepared.

Learning CPR isn’t mandatory for most people.  However, for many it is required of their job and very important that they be proficient in their CPR skills.

Healthcare Providers

Hospitals require their clinical staff to be trained.  Obviously doctors, nurses, EMT’s, paramedics, firefighters and those that work on the front lines of emergency medicine need to be trained.  It is also highly recommended that ANYONE that has a clinical license or touches patients should be certified.  This may include: pharmacists, physical therapists, dental assistants, chiropractors, and other medical personnel.

Lifeguards

Again for obvious reasons lifeguards need to be trained and maintain their certifications.  Whether they are teaching swim lessons at the local YMCA, managing a water park or actually guarding the Atlantic Ocean it is mandatory. Many lifeguards also have to take emergency oxygen courses and first aid.

Personal Trainers/Fitness Instructors

Exercise is good for the heart, right?  Yes it is!  However, it is important that personal trainers and other group fitness instructors learn CPR.  Just in case that cardio workout throws you into cardiac arrest, we want them to be prepared.

Teachers/Bus Drivers/Coaches

You would think that this would be more apparent, yet it is not required for all teachers and school personnel to be trained.  We think it should be! Some kids spend more time with their teachers and coaches than anyone else.  We highly encourage all school staff to be trained.  Are you on the PTO committee??  Bring this up at your next school meeting.  We provide training for public and private schools.

Private Business

We recommend that people that work in the hospitality industry put this at the top of their list.  It is a good idea for hotel staff to be trained in CPR and for hotels to have an AED on site.  Also, where do you think most people choke? Restaurants!  Restaurant staff should also be trained.  However, the list doesn’t stop there!  Banks, retail stores, convention centers, movie theaters, and other entertainment venues should train a portion of their staff.

Daycare Staff

For some reason, while it is not required of school teachers it is required of daycare staff.  Daycare and preschool providers are required by the state to be trained in both CPR & First Aid.  Since they are taking care of such precious cargo it is so important that be familiar with these skills.

Employers with OSHA/Safety Requirements

Many employers are required to train their staff in CPR & First Aid; that is why we offer on-site training at your location.  These professions may include: manufacturing, construction, electrical staff, and those at high risk of injury.

Scout Leaders & Scouts

Since scout groups are often participating in fun adventures and campouts it is a good idea for leaders to be trained in both CPR & First Aid.  If a kid twists his ankle on a hike or cuts himself making his pinewood derby car we want leaders to be prepared.  Scouts also can receive merit badges for both CPR & First Aid.  We would love to train your boy scout or girl scout troop!

Self-employed

Even the self-employed should consider CPR training, especially those that welcome customers into their homes. You need to be prepared, just in case an emergency were to occur.  Whether you are throwing a party for pampered chef, selling insurance or giving massages you should protect yourself from any moral and financial liabilities. Knowing you have the skills required to save a life, if needed, is the best insurance policy of all.

Everyone needs CPR training! Our goal is to deliver high quality training and to create a casual, fun atmosphere. We make sure that all students feel confident in their ability to perform the life saving skills we teach.  

Join us for the next CPR Class at our new West Knoxville location!

Our new address is:

CPR Choice
9111 Cross Park Drive, #D200
Knoxville, TN 37923

We have moved in and are offering classes starting December 13th for CPR & First Aid! As we celebrate our first ten years providing CPR training to the Knoxville area’s healthcare providers and community, we are SO excited and thankful for this opportunity to expand.

Check out our training room! Here is a photo of the area where our CPR classes will be held. Comfortable seating for up to 24 people and equipped with flat screen television & white board. We are thrilled to have this more permanent location that will provide a nice learning environment for our students.

CPR Choice’s new location in West Knoxville, is centrally located to all of the areas we serve! Our service areas include: Knox, Anderson, Blount, Roane, Loudon, Sevier counties and more.

The new CPR Choice office and training center is directly off Cedar Bluff Rd, near I-40. For your convenience, we also have training locations in North and Downtown Knoxville areas, the Maryville area, and locations in the Tri-Cities area.

For groups of eight or more, we’ll come to your site! Contact us if you need any help scheduling the best class for you. Remember to choose CPR Choice, the best choice for all your CPR training needs!

We teach several different American Heart Association and ASHI classes.  
Check out our calendar and registration page for more information and to sign up for a CPR class!

BLS for Healthcare Providers
Heartsaver CPR & AED
Heartsaver First Aid

So you had the opportunity to take a CPR class that was offered at work. You come out of the class feeling pretty confident about your skills …..30:2, head-tilt-chin-lift, chest rise…..got it! Glad you know it, hope you never have to use. But now it is a year down the road. The certification is good for two years but you’ve already forgotten some of what you learned. If someone suddenly collapsed in front of you would you feel comfortable acting?   If you don’t remember everything from you class would you do more harm than good?

This is a common concern for many people who have been trained in CPR but not had real world practice. According to the American Heart Association, when interviewed , bystanders said panic was the major obstacle in performing CPR. This was one factor that led to the AHA releasing updated guidelines in 2010 that allowed for the option of Hands-Only CPR. . Hands-Only CPR is CPR without the mouth-to-mouth breaths. It consists of 2 easy steps:

• Call 9-1-1
• Push hard and fast in the center of the chest

Studies reviewed by the AHA reported that adults who experienced cardiac arrest and received Hands- Only CPR were more likely to survive than those who didn’t receive any type of CPR. Simply stated, doing something is better than doing nothing! The easy to remember Hands-Only technique may help remove barriers for people who want to help but feel unsure of their ability. So don’t let fear inhibit your ability to help save a life. Take action and make a difference.

For more information about Hands-Only CPR you can visit the America heart Association website

We sure do love our pets.  Most people think of them as another member in their family.  However, most pet owners don’t know how to give their animal CPR.  CPR for cats and dogs is very similar to CPR for humans.  Because CPR can be harmful on a healthy dog, be sure that the animal is unconscious and the risk of being bitten by the animal is not present.

1. Lay the dog on it’s right side.  Check for breathing by looking for chest rise or listening near the animals head.  Look for any obstructions; if one is present remove it by sweeping with your finger.

2. Open the dogs airway and give several rescue breaths: For large dogs: close the animal’s jaw tightly and breathe into the nose. The animal’s chest should rise. Give 4-5 rescue breaths. For small dogs and cats you may be able to cover the nose and mouth with your mouth as you breathe.

3. Check for a pulse.  You can check this in the wrist area of the animal or at the femoral artery.

4.  If there is no pulse, perform chest compressions.  The rate of chest compressions varies with the size of the animal. (Dogs over 60 lbs: 60 compressions per minute, Animals 11 to 60 lbs: 80-100 compressions per minute, Animals 10 lbs or less: 120 compressions per minute)

4. Alternate breaths with compressions.  The ratio of compressions to breaths should be 15:1. Continue doing this until the animal responds or begins to breathe on its own.  Continue to watch for signs of life.

5.  Get your animal to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible!

Sources:
http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/cat_dog.html
www.thesafedoghandbook.com

What is it that makes a great CPR Instructor?  What characteristics must one have to turn a potentially boring CPR requirement into a wonderful learning experience that can help people save lives?

The instructor must have passion.  Unfortunately, several CPR instructors are not passionate about their teaching.  Many are only interested in getting the student in and out the door.  This results is a class that is uninteresting and repetitive.  Instructors set the mood for the entire class and if they are not enthusiastic and eager in their teaching, then the students lose interest to learn.  At CPR Choice our instructors are not only passionate but dedicated to making class engaging and well communicated.

Second, the CPR instructor must have a good sense of humor.  CPR and First Aid can be very heavy subjects.  If the atmosphere is too serious, the class will not be enjoyable.  Tactful humor is very important to keep the tone light so that the information can be retained.  However you never want to downplay the importance of learning the skills correctly.  Our students constantly tell us that they never imagined a CPR class could be fun but that CPR Choice proves otherwise.

Most importantly, the instructor must be knowledgeable.  Our instructors don’t just take a one day course to be an instructor.  They are mentored by experienced instructors for an extensive period of time.  They spend weeks observing and co-teaching so they can learn the best ways to teach a CPR course that is organized and professional.  Many of our instructors are EMTs, first responders, firefighters and lifeguards with years of hands-on experience and enjoy sharing it.  All of our instructors are accredited through the American Heart Association and American Safety and Health Institute.

At CPR Choice, we aren’t pretentious and don’t need to drop large medical terms in order to teach CPR. In fact, our style of interaction, repetition and breaking down the parts seems to resonate with re-certifications as a fresh approach without overwhelming first timers.  We guarantee that our instructors are great TEACHERS.  Teaching is a special skill and while we respect hands-on CPR experience, being an engaging presenter/trainer is equally important.  Anyone can turn on a video and hand out CPR cards but at CPR Choice we pride ourselves in being good TEACHERS and COACHES.  No matter if you have taken CPR 20 times or if it is your a first time, we will make it a comfortable and informative class that you can enjoy.  We guarantee it!

Learn more about our CPR Choice staff.  With over 50 years of experience we guarantee it is the best CPR training in East Tennessee.  We are now offering CPR training in Knoxville and the Tri-cities.

Don’t believe us though, read our testimonials and see what our customers say about our CPR and First Aid courses!

We all hope we will never be put in the position of having to save a child’s life, but it could happen. Children of all ages test their physical limits and get caught in all kinds of dangerous situations. They choke on food or candy, fall off bikes and playground equipment, and take a leap into water unsupervised.

Here are a few steps to explain the basics of first aid for choking, but do yourself a favor and don’t rely on this as your sole source of information. Set aside a few hours to attend a class with CPR Choice to learn the proper techniques. Techniques differ depending on the age of the child, and doing them improperly can be harmful- learn the right technique today!

Children under a year old:

• Turn infant facedown over your forearm or on your lap if you can’t manage the forearm position, hold their jaw with one hand to support the head, which should be lower than the chest.
• Using the heel of your free hand, deliver five quick slaps between the shoulder blades.
• If still can’t breathe, try chest thrusts: While holding your baby, turn face-up, keeping the head lower than the chest. Place two fingers in the middle of the chest and give five thrusts.
• Repeat with back blows and chest thrusts until the object is visible and you can remove it.

Children over 1 year old:

• Stand behind the child with your arms around their waist.
• Make a fist with one hand, placing the thumb side against the child’s stomach above the navel, but below the rib cage.
• Grasp the fist with your other hand and quickly thrust inward and upward.
• If your child becomes unresponsive, instruct someone to call 9-1-1 and begin CPR immediately.

Toddlers & Older Children:

• If your child is still making sounds, tell them to cough, which may dislodge the object. (Don’t try to remove a foreign object unless you see it, or you could push it farther into the airway.)
• Ask “Are you choking?” If they nod yes or can’t respond, they need help.
• Give five back blows, bending them forward and provide five sharp back blows with the heel of one hand in the middle of the back between the shoulder blades. Check with the child after each blow.
• If the obstruction does not clear after the back blows, give five chest thrusts. Place one hand in the middle of the back for support and the heel of your other hand in the CPR compression position and give five chest thrusts, slower but sharper than CPR compressions.  Check with the child after each thrust.
• Call 9-1-1 and alternate between back and chest thrusts if the object is still lodged.
• Perform CPR if the child becomes unconscious.

Learn the proper techniques to save a life, it very well could be a loved one!  Check out our calendar to find a class for individuals or complete the form for on-site group training.  We guarantee it will be the best CPR class you have ever taken!  We currently serve the Knoxville, Maryville and Tri-cities area of Tennessee (TN).  Visit one of our websites for specific information for your area.

www.KnoxvilleCPR.com

www.TriCitiesCPR.com

The American Heart Association (AHA) has two simple tips for anyone around you that goes into cardiac arrest.  Call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive”.    Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR can more than double a person’s changes of survival, and “Stayin’ Alive” has the right beat for Hands-Only CPR (www.heart.org).    The 1977 Bee Gees’ song has the perfect beat for performing CPR because the song contains 103 beats per minute.  This is close to the recommended chest compressions of 100 beats every 60 seconds.

This campaign introduced by the AHA has created a series of videos available on YouTube to help spread the word.  Ken Joeng, an actor, comedian and also a licensed physician in CA stars in one of the promotional videos and urges people to pay attention.

CPR courses are so important and it is crucial that every American learn these skills.  Sign up for a class today!  CPR Choice offers classes that are fun and engaging and allow each student lots of hands-on experience.  Do not hesitate to learn CPR, you could make a difference, you could save a life! We offer classes for anyone!  Including: BLS for healthcare providers, Heartsaver CPR & AED, and Heartsaver First Aid.