First Aid, CPR, and AED FAQs

What does Southwest Virginia CPR do to mitigate risk of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) disease transmission during American Red Cross classes?

Southwest Virginia CPR sanitizes manikins after each and every class. Manikins are equipped with one-time use, disposable lung bags which are replaced after every class, and a one-time use, American Red Cross disposable face shield is provided to each participant for use during class. Each participant is provided with their own manikin (1 adult and 1 infant) as well as their own automated external defibrillator trainer. Latex free gloves will be provided in sizes small, medium, and large.

Before class we may ask that you consider rescheduling if you are experiencing symptoms of fever, dry cough, or other respiratory illness.

To learn more about  COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Do these classes meet OSHA workplace requirements?

Yes. All Southwest Virginia CPR courses meet OSHA workplace requirements.

How long does my certification last?

Your certification lasts for 2 years.

Do I have to get on the floor in this class?

Yes, in order to achieve certification, you must perform CPR skills while kneeling on the floor.

Is there an age requirement to participate?

No, but in order to achieve certification, participants must demonstrate competency in required skills. In an Adult CPR course, for example, participants must compress the adult manikin chest at least two inches deep at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute. This may be difficult for children under 12. If you are under 18 and wish to receive certification, please contact us before signing up.

When will I receive the link to complete the online portion of the blended learning class?

If you sign up for a class within two weeks of the in-person skills session, you will receive an email with the link within 24 hours of submitting your payment for the class. If you sign up for a class more than two weeks in advance of the in-person skills session, you can expect to receive the link two weeks from the date of the in-person skills session. We will send the link to the email you provide during the PayPal checkout process. Signing up for blended learning on the day the class is scheduled is not recommended due to insufficient time to complete the online portion of the course.

Can I complete the online portion of blended learning on my smartphone or tablet?

The blended learning software is currently not supported on smartphone devices but may be used on some tablets. Visit the  Red Cross website to learn more about technology requirements.

Can I get continuing education units (CEUs) through this course?

The American Red Cross is an accredited provider of the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). For additional information, visit www.redcross.org.

If I am unable to meet course certification requirements, can I get a refund?

No, but you will be encouraged to stay through the end of the course to acquire knowledge and participate in as many modules as possible even though you may not receive certification in them.

What’s the difference between Adult and Child, Adult and Pediatric, and Pediatric courses?

Adult and child courses cover content related to adults and children ages 1 and older. Adult and pediatric courses cover content for adults, children, and infants under 1 year old. Pediatric courses cover content for children and infants.

How and when will I receive my certificate?

You will receive your certificate through email or you may access it online. After the instructor enters the course information, your certificate will be emailed to you from the American Red Cross. Please allow at least one business day for this to process. If you do not have an email address, you can visit www.redcross.org/getcertificate to access your certificate at any time. You must provide your first and last name, the date of the class, and the zip code of the location where the course was held.

Does SWVA CPR have a cancellation policy?

Yes, it is as follows:

If you are unable to attend class, or if you cancel within 48 hours of the class, no refund will be issued.

A $5 service fee will be charged for refunds issued at the request of the customer with the following guidelines. The service fee will be waived if Southwest Virginia CPR makes the cancellation.

If you cancel your registration within two weeks of the class (but outside of the 48 hours described above), we will refund you 50% of the original cost except the $5 service fee.

If you cancel your registration more than two weeks in advance of the class, we will refund you 100% of the original cost except the $5 service fee.

If Southwest Virginia CPR cancels a class due to inclement weather or unexpected circumstance, you will be offered a full refund or the opportunity to reschedule.

We will contact you by email for instructions and information related to the course. We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible when we cancel a class, and we strongly urge you to monitor your email for updates regarding the class. You may also provide us with a phone number to receive calls or texts for updates if you prefer.

Will I have to share a manikin?*

It is possible, but there should not be more than two participants per manikin. Southwest Virginia CPR sanitizes manikins according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. If you share a manikin, your instructor will clean the manikin and remove and replace the lung bags between uses. Participants also receive their own breathing barriers which will be used when performing CPR.

We encourage participants at the beginning of class to inform us privately and request a separate training manikin if they have infectious or communicable disease.

*Southwest Virginia CPR strives to have one manikin per participant in every class. If you have concerns and would like to request your own manikin, please let us know after signing up and we will accommodate your request.

Do I have to have a PayPal account to sign up for classes?

No. We use PayPal for transactions, but PayPal provides the option to just pay with a credit card without having a PayPal account.