Our mission is saving lives!  We continuously strive to be the best CPR Provider in the region by offering quality training that is engaging, convenient and fun for everyone.  To help make CPR easy, CPR Choice offers:

• Convenient Locations– CPR Choice prides itself on offering classes all over the Knoxville and surrounding counties. We offer classroom training at our Knoxville Training Center, as well as classes in the following areas:
  • Lenoir City
  • Maryville
  • Oak Ridge
  • Sevierville
  • Tricities

We also offer on-site training. Gather a group of 8 or more and we’ll come to you. We can accommodate any size group and we have worked with some of the largest companies in Knoxville.

• Flexible Schedules– We offer classes consistently all over Knoxville and the surrounding counties. Our Knoxville Training Center schedules classes each week & offers weekend options too. We can also accommodate any last minute training needs. With our organizational structure, we can offer classes for any shifts for your employees and/or businesses.
• State of the Art Equipment– Our modern and up-to-date equipment offer students hands on training with life-like manikins to provide visual feedback regarding compression depths and speed. We have over 50 manikins in inventory, offering all our students an opportunity to have practical experience
• Wide Variety of classes– Our classes include:
  • Basic Life Support BLS for Healthcare Providers
  • Heartsaver ® CPR AED
  • Heartsaver ® First Aid CPR AED
  • Heartsaver ® Pediatric CPR/AED & First Aid
  • Family & Friends ® CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • BLS for Healthcare Providers Skills Check
  • BLS for Healthcare Providers Challenge
  • Online Training (Blended Learning)
  • ASHI Emergency Oxygen Administration

Starting July 2015, we will also be adding ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) to our curriculum.  Continue to check our website for new class offerings, www.cprchoice.com.

• We make it FUN! We deliver quality training with the most experienced instructors in the area, boasting a combined 85 years’ experience in CPR and safety training. Our staff members are passionate about their job and incorporates their real-life training knowledge into the class room offering a fun, engaging and informative experience.

Visit our website www.CPRChoice.com to learn more about our locations, classes and our team!  We would love to see YOU in a CPR class soon!

Using tourniquets can save lives.  However, it is important to be knowledgeable about the technique.  In the 2010 AHA CPR and First Aid Guidelines:  the use of tourniquets has been endorsed in both the professional setting and in the public sector.  Tourniquets should always be a last resort to effectively stop bleeding and you should always try to control with direct pressure first.  The tourniquet should be utilized for extremity bleeding only and placed approximately 2 inches above the injury.  It is important to note that the bleeding will become worse before it gets better, continue tightening the tourniquet until bleeding is stopped.

Steps to Apply a Tourniquet:

• Position and tie the tourniquet 2 inches above the injury
• Apply a windlass
• Twist the windlass until bleeding stops
• Note the time the tourniquet was applied

Specifically designed tourniquets do work better than improvised ones.  Make sure to note the time in which the tourniquet is applied and pass this information on to EMS providers.  There are potential dangers in prolonged tourniquet application, but the benefits of controlling life threatening bleeding outweigh the risks.

Tourniquets were not endorsed for a wide range of studies as they can damage soft tissue, and applied incorrectly they can make bleeding worse.  It wasn’t until the most recent military experience that they were brought back into use.  Military study in the Middle East conflict proved them to be a necessity, and has pushed medicine to explore great advances in limb re-perfusion.  Now they are being utilized even in surgical settings- enabling doctors to limit bleeding in the controlled setting as well.

At CPR Choice we get to train heroes almost every day.   We train fireman, police, doctors, nurses, EMTs, soldiers and more. When you think of heroes those are usually the people that come to mind, right? While all of those people are heroes we also train a totally different group of heroes…TEACHERS!

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and we want to take a minute to say “thank you!”. Teachers sacrifice so much of their lives and time for our children and they don’t get thanked nearly enough. Now that I have a child in the school system (First grade), I can say that my son’s teachers have truly amazed me. They do so many little things to try and make his learning experience better. I know that they spend money out of their own pockets to decorate their classrooms and to have little treats for the kids.

Summer is almost here! Don’t forget to acknowledge and appreciate your child’s teachers. I read a quote once that said, “summer vacation is a time when parents realize that teachers are grossly underpaid”. This is so true!

We want to extend a special discount for our teacher heroes. Many schools require teachers to be CPR certified but they expect teachers to pay for it on their own. We recommend that all school staff be certified in CPR and for several staff members to be certified in first aid. We read stories every day about teachers preventing fatalities at school due to their CPR knowledge. You never know when you might need to use those skills and we want you to feel prepared. Sign up for a CPR class today and take advantage of our discount for teachers!

Epinephrine Pens, or Epi Pens, are special syringes that are pre-filled with a prescription dose of epinephrine to be administered in the event of a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine Pens can save the lives of people who suffer life threatening reactions to allergens such as bee stings, nuts and other foods. The dosage is often suited to the person whom it was prescribed. It is important for people who have been prescribed an Epinephrine Pen to always carry it with them and make sure co-workers, teachers and peers know how to administer it in the case of an emergency.

Operating an Epinephrine Pen is very straightforward.

• The first step is to remove the safety cap (on the back).
• The person administering the shot will hold the pen in their fist and push the needle end firmly into the victim in the side of the thigh muscle (between the hip and the knee).
• Hold the epinephrine pen in place for ten seconds, taking care to not twist or move the needle.
• After 10 seconds, the Epinephrine Pen is removed and a protective, safety sheath will cover the needle.
• After giving the injection rub the area of the shot for 10 seconds, to help get the medication into the bloodstream.
• One should also make note of the time the shot was delivered and then dispose of the Epinephrine Pen in a designated sharps container.

If at all possible, the person who is prescribed the Epinephrine Pen should deliver the shot to themselves, but in the event of a sudden, severe reaction, may need help. Advanced medical help should be notified and advised of the type of allergy, approximate time of the reaction and the time the epinephrine was administered. It is important to stay with the victim until medical help arrives.  It may take a few minutes for the medicine to start working.

Sometimes the first exposure to an allergen may result in life threatening anaphylaxis reactions. Medical professionals also stress that delaying treatment with epinephrine in the case of the severe reactions is more likely to result in death. It is because of this warning, more schools are stocking extra Epi Pens and training personnel on their use. Tennessee passed legislation in 2013, joining 28 other states, to allow schools to keep epinephrine pens in stock and administer them in the case of an emergency.

Learn how to administer Epinephrine in one of our Heartsaver first aid classes.  We also offer a Pediatric specific first aid class for daycares, churches, preschools and businesses working with children.  Our first aid course covers a lot of subjects and will teach you what to do in an emergency.

Heartsaver CPR & First Aid Course curriculum:

• Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Child & Infant CPR
• Conscious & Unconscious Choking (Heimlich)
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• Medical Emergencies
• Injury emergencies
• Environmental emergencies

Click here for more info about the prescribed drug Epinephrine or to learn how Epinephrine works.

Caring for children is a privilege for those who are called to do it. It is also an enormous responsibility and one that caregivers should be as prepared as possible to undertake. Being able to care for a child in their own home provides a comfortable, familiar environment for the child where they feel safe and secure. However, according to the CDC accidental injury is the leading cause of death in children under 14 in the United States and more of these accidents happen at home than anywhere else. Being certified in CPR and First Aid arms caregivers with the skills they need to act in a timely manner if an accident happens.

The leading reasons children under the age of 4 are seen in the emergency room include falls, being struck by something, allergic reactions, poisoning, burns, and being cut or pierces by something.  Although most of these can be seen as preventable, anyone with children knows they are quick, curious, and often times fearless. Accidents can happen even when parents are in the same room with a child. CPR and First Aid training equips nannies and babysitters to immediately respond to these situations and many more and get the child the time sensitive medical help they may need until parents can be notified and get to their child. For parents, knowing their caregiver has these skills gives them piece of mind when they are leaving their children.

Preventing accidents is always the first priority, but in the event they do……and they will……happen, feeling confident in your ability and knowledge to handle the situation is invaluable in keeping the child calm, comforting them and getting them they help they need until mom and dad can be there.

Sign up for a Pediatric CPR & First Aid class today!

Congratulations! You enrolled in a CPR class and completed the course requirements. The class provided you with the knowledge to offer first aid, administer CPR and use an AED to help potentially save a life. During your class, you learned the importance of CPR because about 88% of all cardiac arrests occur at home, which means your skills will more than likely be used on a loved one. All the topics and hands on application are crucial steps in preparing you to potentially save a life and help stabilize a patient until medical help arrives. It’s literally a life saver.

The American Heart Association suggests a CPR re-certification every two years to make sure you are up-to-date on the latest techniques and it’s a great opportunity to refresh on your basic skills. Two years can go by so fast and your memory of some of the techniques may have faded.  CPR Choice offers a variety of CPR classes to re-certify you and make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
• Heartsaver CPR & AED
• Heartsaver First Aid, CPR & AED
• Pediatric First Aid & CPR
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• Emergency Oxygen

Regain your confidence in your ability to perform CPR and to use an AED is the best way to prevent unnecessary deaths.  CPR Choice is your source to learn the skills needed to save a life!  It is a very small price to pay versus watching the ones you love pass in front of you. Re-certify and sign up for a CPR class today!

Last week I was driving north on the highway when all of a sudden the traffic really slowed down. I looked around trying to figure out what had caused it and then I quickly could see that there had been an accident in the southbound lanes. I took a better look and I realized that there had been a motorcyclist hit and he was lying in the middle of the highway. There was another person standing by the victim but no EMS (emergency medical services) had arrived on the scene yet.

I immediately pulled over and put on my hazard lights. I made sure it was safe for me to approach the victim and I ran in his direction. Thankfully the man was conscious and had a pulse when I arrived. He faded in and out of consciousness but he was visibly breathing and when conscious he was able to answer questions about himself.

The motorcyclist was lying on his side and because his vitals were strong we encouraged him not to move since there could have been a head neck injury. His helmet was quite scratched and banged up. It made me so grateful for Tennessee’s universal helmet law.

Several states do not require everyone to wear helmets.   Wearing a helmet probably saved this man’s life and prevented a (TBI) Traumatic Brain Injury. Now that the weather is getting nice there are going to be more motorcyclists out on the roads. Drivers, please be aware of your surrounding and double check for bikes before changing lanes. Motorcyclists, always wear a helmet.

A helmet is the most effective protection for a motorcyclist. While helmets do not prevent crashes they do save lives. Riders who experience a crash while not wearing a helmet are 40 percent more likely to sustain a fatal head injury. See the figure below to see what your state requires.

 Spending time on the back of a motorcycle can be a lot of fun and full of adventure! People ride motorcycles for all sorts of reasons: the thrill of the ride, the affordability of gas, or maybe the sense of community.  We want you to enjoy your ride but please be safe and protect yourself.

If you had seen the victim on the ground, would you have known what to do? How about if he was unconscious or not breathing? Learn CPR & First Aid today.

Everyone should learn these life saving skills. We offer American Heart Association CPR classes that will have you leaving confident in your ability to help save a life. At CPR Choice, we help you help others!  Need a BLS for healthcare providers class?  We teach those too!

For CPR training information check out our training calendar. Now offering high quality CPR classes in:

• Knoxville, TN
• Tri-Cities, TN
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Modesto, CA

The American Heart Association is now offering eCards for their provider courses.  An eCard in the electronic equivalent of a printed course completion card.  eCards are valid course completion cards and can be presented to schools and employers as proof of successful completion of an AHA course.  Just like printed CPR course completion cards, eCards will expire two years from the issue date.

Students cannot receive both an eCard and printed card. eCards are an alternative to printed cards.  Only one AHA course completion card can be issued per student for each successfully completed course. However, e cards can be printed by both the student or instructor if necessary.  Employers may verify that an eCard is authentic by entering the card information at www.heart.org/cpr/mycards.

CPR Choice is excited to start using eCards.  These just became available Tennessee training centers last week.  We will be giving them as an option for CPR & First Aid students.  We will be offering eCards for the following courses:

• Basic Life Support BLS for Healthcare Providers
• Heartsaver^® CPR AED
• Heartsaver^® First Aid CPR AED
• Heartsaver^® First Aid
• Pediatric First Aid CPR AED

If you have any additional questions about eCards or CPR/First Aid training in the Knoxville or Tri-Cities area, please email info@cprchoice.com.  We offer CPR classes to the public multiple times per week as well as offer on-site CPR training at your location.

Sources: AHA eCards reference guide