Roy Gordon, AHA CPR instructor/ EMT
Medical, Nursing, Dental, EMT, Radiographers, Phlebotomy, EKG, EEG, CNA, and MA students: when seeking AHA (American Heart Association) two-year certification in BLS (Basic Life Support) will greatly benefit from taking an initial, and renewal certifications in a group environment with an Instructor-led class.
Learning to deliver high-quality compressions are critical for the survival of a person in cardiac arrest. We practice the life-saving skills of CPR and AED, with minimal interruptions in compressions, and with an emphasis on communication skills with a partner. Have a question? All of your questions will be answered, and you will leave with far more confidence in an instructor-led class, than by yourself at a business offering a VAM (Voice Assisted Manikin).
A VAM is a manikin connected to a computer that a person has to demonstrate skills for in a room all by themselves. There are no AHA instructors available to help or answer questions, but a customer service agent may be able to help you over the phone. VAM are testing stations designed as a check-off for BLS certification for people who are already proficient with BLS and CPR. There is no practice, but rather just limited feedback from the computer for you to either pass, or fail.
There are many limitations when practicing without an instructor giving feedback. Ventilation practice with a Bag Valve Mask( BVM) in an instructor-led class will be far more beneficial for medical professionals than with a VAM, as there is ample time for practice getting a proper seal with the face mask, and avoiding hyperventilation with the bag. This skill is simply impossible to perfect with a VAM.
There have been many malfunctions and complaints from these Voice Assisted Manikins reported in Yelp reviews, and even if you are a seasoned medical professional you still might not pass. We certify several people every week who did not pass down the street at our competitor and they were not given a refund. We feel really bad that people leave with the experience of failing.
Failing is not an option at Revive CPR Training, as long as you don’t have an injury preventing you from doing compressions we will ensure that you will get enough practice to pass every time. However, we do not just hand-out certificates you will proudly earn your BLS certification with us. People leave our classes with enthusiasm unlike those coming from a VAM testing location who are often frustrated.
A study in Australia recently published that feedback manikins are more beneficial for practicing compressions than with an instructor who can provide specific, real– time feedback. is this statement true?
The study below claims to be a randomized trial, however, all of the participants were medical students, and documentation of the experience level of the Instructor for the BLS class is not included.
It’s likely that test subjects participated in a BLS class where the instructor lacked experience and failed to provide constructive feedback. If students were enrolled in such a class, they would undoubtedly report a negative learning experience. This study is flawed unless the instructor’s performance was assessed objectively and participants had the opportunity to learn from an experienced instructor as well.
Feedback devices, such as a voice assisted manikin are not AI technology and lack cameras that can detect when people are bending their arms, leaning back, or worst of all-they are doing compressions in the wrong location. A computer can only repeat very limited commands when the proper compression depth is not achieved.
Voice Assisted Manikins have not yet been studied by The American Heart Association comparing them to Instructor– led classes, therefore, we believe the results found in Australia should not be considered valid in the United States.
Instructor-led CPR classes place more emphasis on education and actually saving people’s lives in the real world. Healthcare professionals prefer live classes vs. a VAM all by themself.
The truth is that people only tolerate a VAM-they don’t prefer it over a live class at all! AHA required student surveys that are emailed before certifications are sent will show VAM has an approval rating that is far below The AHA benchmark of an 85% approval rating for AHA Training Sites, whereas, Revive CPR has a satisfaction rating above this benchmark.
You will leave our BLS class with the confidence to save a persons life that same day, and Your skills will be superior to anyone taking their BLS certification with a business offering VAM’s. Practicing with a VAM will only at best improve your CPR compression skills.
Yet someday you just might have fun banging away compressions with a VAM, which is utilized in hospitals and often referred to as an RQI program.
Revive CPR 148 Townsend St. San Francisco, CA 94107
BLS classes, BLS certification, BLS Renewal
