CPR Resource Center
The most comprehensive library of emergency training resources — including videos, articles, downloads, and more.
CPR Certification for Coaches
What CPR Class Should I Register for as a Coach?
Depending on the guidelines of your organization or local laws, coaches may be required to train in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid. Some statewide automated external defibrillator (AED) laws also specify training requirements for coaches.
As an American Heart Association® Training Center, Code One offers nationally recognized CPR training courses. The recommended course for most coaches is Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED which covers the majority of emergencies a coach may encounter.
Why Should Coaches Learn First Aid?
Athletes face physical demands during practices and games, which can increase the risk of injury. Coaches play an important role in recognizing symptoms quickly and confidently responding to both minor and severe injuries.
Heartsaver First Aid covers essential first aid topics, including:
- First aid basics
- Medical emergencies
- Injury emergencies
- Environmental emergencies
- Illness and injury prevention
- Choking relief for adult, children, and infants
- Drowning prevention and response
- Opioid-associated life-threatening emergencies
Why is CPR & AED Training Important for Coaches?
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the leading non-traumatic cause of death among youth athletes. People who witness the collapse, recognize the symptoms, and take immediate action are the critical first link in the cardiac arrest chain of survival. According to the American Heart Association, for every minute that CPR is delayed, survival rates drop 7-10% percent but those who receive high-quality CPR and/or a shock from an AED in the crucial first minutes are more than twice as likely to survive.
Performing CPR, locating the closest AED, and using the device correctly in those few short minutes before emergency medical professionals arrive on scene are essential skills that every coach should have.
AHA’s Heartsaver course is designed specifically for non-healthcare professionals like teachers or coaches, who may be more likely than the average person to respond to an out-of-hospital cardiac emergency.
What to Expect in Code One’s Heartsaver Course
Code One offers Heartsaver courses through a hybrid training model, which combines online coursework and an in-person skills checkoff.
Online Heartsaver training can be completed at home or on your own time. The course is adaptive and adjusts the pacing to your knowledge level.
After completing the online course work, you will attend your Heartsaver hands-on skills session at one of our 100+ Code One locations. At Code One’s training center, you will enter a private training room where the CPR coach will greet you virtually on a TV screen and assist throughout the hands-on skills session. Our computerized CPR manikins offer real-time feedback, so you leave feeling more confident in your skills.
Upon successful completion of the Heartsaver course, an AHA Heartsaver Course Completion eCard will be sent to you via e-mail. Your certified proficiency in Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, and AED use is valid for two years.