Bot Bucks and Polo Shirts? Yes, Please!

Thanks to all our instructors and TC directors who have uploaded a video to our new video stories page. These early adopters earned themselves some sweet rewards, and you can, too!

From now through July 31, 2019, we’ll send you one free ASHI or MEDIC First Aid polo shirt, plus you’ll accrue $15 in Bot Bucks for each instructor video submission.*

Our new video stories page allows you to share your story with your fellow instructors and potential students. See what your peers have said about what inspired them to become emergency care instructors and then upload your own video by uploading a video file or recording yourself using your webcam. For a short demonstration on using the webcam upload feature, click here.

*$15 Bot Bucks offer limited to 10 instructor submissions per Training Center for a maximum of $150 in Bot Bucks. Must include Training Center name when submitting video. Offer valid until July 31, 2019. To receive your free ASHI or MEDIC First Aid polo shirt, a client services representative will contact you about brand preference and size during regular business hours after we receive your video upload. One free shirt per Training Center. Offer available while supplies last.

Experience Matters

“Experience is the most efficient teacher of all things.” - Pliny the Elder

Emergency care instructors come from all kinds of different backgrounds, from professional responders to HR professionals who reluctantly took on the instructor role. One of the things we all have in common is that we gained the knowledge and skill to become authorized to teach whatever programs we are teaching. That said, our growth as instructors shouldn’t stop once we become “authorized” by our chosen organizations.

The AHA Scientific Statement, Resuscitation Education Science: Educational Strategies to Improve Outcomes from Cardiac Arrest, A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, tells us:

“Instructors should anticipate ongoing efforts to improve their teaching skills and those of their peers in a model of lifelong learning.”

The best way to gain experience is to teach classes and reinforce your instructional skills in the real world. This is where you’ll encounter endless opportunities to overcome issues and develop strategies from dealing with difficult students to what to do when your AV plan goes haywire (and it will!).

While there is no real replacement for classroom experience, we have a few tips on how to hone your skills when you aren’t in the classroom:

Use ongoing self-evaluation and practice. Consider videoing yourself conducting a class and then watch for where you can improve (are you leaning on comfort words, i.e. “umm’s” and “uh’s”? What does your body language look like? Are teaching to one side of your class and ignoring the other?)

Again, from the AHA Scientific Statement:

“Developing the skills to use reflective practice to detect and correct errors allows resuscitation instructors to be self-directed learners using processes of self-regulation (self-reflection) to improve their skills.”

Look for outside opportunities for improvement. Attend related classes, seminars, conferences. Join online instructor groups, which are a great resource for ideas to incorporate into your classes

Look for constructive feedback from your peers. Share ideas and experiences with other instructors, and be open to hearing insights and strategies from peers

So, whether you are brand new and getting ready to teach your own class or have been conducting emergency care classes for years, the pursuit of experience and continuous improvement should be never-ending.

For more training tips, check out the new instructor skills infographics on our Resources page.

Getting to Know Your HSI Production Team, Part 1

What makes a great emergency care program? From the full-color photos in our student books to the exciting real-life scenario program videos to the expert content on every page and every slide, HSI’s Production department brings emergency care training to life. In the first of this two-part series, meet the manager who helps keep all those balls in the air to bring you and your students our award-winning content.

Like most of the staff on the Production team, Dana Midles, Production Manager, Emergency Care, is a long-time HSI employee. She works closely with our subject matter experts (SMEs) and advisory boards to ensure that our ASHI, MEDIC First Aid, and 24-7 customers are getting the programs they need to help make their workplaces and communities safer.

“It’s wonderful to work with this talented team; we are all very experienced in our roles, which means we can adapt and execute on new development or reviews with agility and confidence,” she explains. “Everyone is willing to step up and get it all done, and everyone brings value to the table.”

One of the busiest times for Production is when they are working on the new versions of our core CPR, AED, and first aid programs. “When new guidelines are issued, we take that opportunity to reassess our programs from the ground up as we incorporate new, evidence-based recommendations. We also want to be sure we’re keeping students interested, especially those re-certification students our Training Centers train every two years. Updated program content, along with new images and videos, helps keep learning fresh and students engaged,” Dana says.

But Dana isn’t just the manager of the Production workflow; she’s an integral part of the actual creative process as a writer and editor. For example, she’s the writing talent behind the script, Student Book, and Instructor Guide for our new Child and Babysitting Safety (CABS) program. “CABS is a popular program and an important component of our training library. CABS is about kids, and also for kids! We are targeting an audience that is younger than our typical training audience. We really wanted to present content that parents would trust, that would prepare babysitters to start a business, and help young people understand the importance of keeping children safe. But also for babysitters to know how to keep themselves safe, or to stay home alone for the first time as the person in charge of siblings. 

“CABS delivers all this in a way that young people find engaging, appealing, and memorable. Retention of this content is very important to us, especially for a topic that puts the responsibility of caring for children into younger hands. We did research, consulted with a parent advisory group, and asked for feedback from young people. We put a lot of thought into reaching this audience in a meaningful way; it’s fun and chock-full of information to prepare students, and it’s the kind of training I would want for someone caring for my kids! Being on set during filming was a wonderful experience,” she says.

For 2019, the team has been prioritizing our 24-7 programs for first responders, making sure we have the courses they need for their continuing education and re-certification requirements. The process begins with our seven-member advisory board. “We talk about what they’re hearing at their professional EMS conferences. Then, our team of content experts evaluates those new trends and topics against our current library of courses to see how they could be incorporated. This helps us create a 24-7 production schedule at the top of every year.”

“And,” she adds, “if there is an emerging topic that we need to address to better help our customers reach their goals, we’ll try to come up with a game plan to fit it into our schedule and make it happen,” she explains.

In addition to any new courses, Production also handles the re-approval process for 24-7 courses to ensure we have a catalog of continuing education hours that are accredited by CAPCE for EMS providers. “We do three or four course re-approvals each month, with a team of qualified content experts reviewing and assessing every aspect of the selected courses to see what may need updating,” Dana says.

When asked, “What would you like our customers to know about your department?” Dana had a ready answer. “All of us in Production really care about the customer experience with our training, whether that’s as an instructor or a student. We want to facilitate your learning, not waste your time. Our goal is always for you to have a meaningful training experience. To do so, we continually review and improve our materials, which keeps us incredibly busy, even in off-guideline years. But we always have time for customer feedback. If you have a suggestion, perspective on something we can improve, or need a particular topic covered, let us know! We’re here to support you with current, accurate, and meaningful training,” she explains.

Meet the creative team that makes the imagery and video magic in our programs in an upcoming ASHI and MEDIC First Aid newsletter article. Stay tuned...

Training Center Profiles

Meet Your Peers

Discover what your peers are thinking about the emergency care industry, the challenges their TCs face, and the solutions they’ve found in their goal to make their workplaces and communities safer.

TC Name: Heartstart, Inc. Plano, TX. www.heartstartonline.com

Director: Jennifer Idley

How long have you been in business?

30 years as an external, for-profit ASHI and MEDIC First Aid

What is the biggest challenge for you and your business?

Finding new customers

How do you market your business?

Website and online advertising. I gain most of my business through referrals.

Based on what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were starting out?

Find a consistent mentor

Where do you see your business and the emergency care training industry in the next 5-10 years?

Offering more blended training and hiring a sales manager

Of your business or training investments that cost less than $500, what has given you the best return?

Manikins

What strategies have proved to be a waste of time and money?

Direct mail, ads in publications, door-to-door sales

Where do you go to stay current with the latest industry information and knowledge?

EMS Conferences, online medical publications, and blogs

What are some of the most common misconceptions or mistakes you have seen/heard in your career?

Students being taught that rescue breathing has been eliminated

Can you share a favorite Good Samaritan story about your students?

Within a week after taking a CPR class with a friend's family, their newborn stopped breathing. The dad did CPR until EMS arrived. The baby lived and is now 10 years old!

TC Name: Second Wind CPR FA & Safety. Mukilteo, WA. www.secondwindcpr.com

Director: Paula Drake

How long have you been in business?

Approximately 18 years as an external, sole proprietor ASHI TC

What is the biggest challenge for you and your business?

Administration and recognition of ASHI and MEDIC First Aid training programs

How do you market your business?

Website, online advertising, ads in local publications, speaking as an emergency care expert at public events, offering a free public class, community group networking, and word of mouth

Based on what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were starting out?

Trust your vision and be brave enough to overcome barriers

Where do you see your business and the emergency care training industry in the next 5-10 years?

Very much the same! I love my long-time clients and enjoy bringing them the latest industry standards by utilizing the most up-to-date tools and information.

Of your business or training investments that cost less than $500, what has given you the best return?

My students love the LOOP Learning System. I also use creative ideas to add props for bleeding control practice by repurposing old mannequins and tourniquet dummies. By replacing outdated equipment and tools as needed, [I] spread the costs out over time and give my students the best hands-on learning opportunities.

What strategies have proved to be a waste of time and money?

Cold calling and mailing. These are too impersonal.

Where do you go to stay current with the latest industry information and knowledge?

I really appreciate the HSI and ASHI blogs and emails, and read them all. I also stay current as an active EMT/firefighter through many sources of online and hands-on training. I am currently an EMS Evaluator certified in WA state.

What are some of the most common misconceptions or mistakes you have seen/heard in your career?

Lack of confidence is my number one concern. I teach kids and adults, both professional and lay rescuers. Kids are naturally confident! I work more on their competency in class. With adults, I have found that if I can build their confidence, I have succeeded in my mission.

Can you share a favorite Good Samaritan story about your students?

I have a few, having been in this business for over 30 years. But one recent experience stands out: One of my students was on an island-hopping boat trip with friends. At one remote stop, his fiancé chopped off the tip of her finger with a hatchet. Although anxious, he felt confident in his first aid skills. He calmed the patient, bandaging the wound and digit correctly, and saved her finger. It was two days before he could get her to advanced medical care. The end of her finger was re-attached and she is healing nicely. The student shared his experience in a re-certification class at his workplace, a city public works group I have been teaching for many years. He expressed gratitude for the training he had received.

TC Name: SureFire CPR. Orange, Los Angeles, Corona, and Laguna Hills, CA. www.SureFireCPR.com

Director: Zack Zarrilli

How long have you been in business?

10 years as an external, for-profit ASHI TC

What is the biggest challenge for you and your business?

Finding new instructors

How do you market your business?

Website, email marketing, online advertising

Based on what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were starting out?

To reach out to more Training Centers to ask for advice

Where do you see your business and the emergency care training industry in the next 5-10 years?

Continuing to grow and expand throughout Southern California

Of your business or training investments that cost less than $500, what has given you the best return?

The real-life experience of our instructors!

What strategies have proved to be a waste of time and money?

Career fairs and job fairs

Where do you go to stay current with the latest industry information and knowledge?

ASHI Blog, American Heart Association, Industry Magazines

What are some of the most common misconceptions or mistakes you have seen/heard in your career?

People are concerned that they will make a mistake and this causes them to be scared to act. We do our best to empower our students to take that first step and ACT. Your courage can save a life.

Can you share a favorite Good Samaritan story about your students?

We had a student at one of our group trainings save a life! Jeff Upton is a restaurant manager who had a customer suffer from sudden cardiac arrest while he was working his shift. He had recently taken a CPR certification course with SureFire CPR and as a result was equipped with the knowledge to provide lifesaving care until the paramedics arrived on the scene. Watch a video of the full story here. 

TC Name: InNOVAMED, LLC. Deltona, FL. www.innovamedllc.com

Director: Brayan A Sanchez

How long have you been an ASHI/MEDIC First Aid Training Center?

Under 2 years as an internal, for-profit ASHI TC

Based on what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were starting out?

This [career] is what you want. Be more aggressive and less afraid.

Of your business or training investments that cost less than $500, what has given you the best return?

ASHI Wilderness First Aid

Where do you go to stay current with the latest industry information and knowledge?

CDC, ILCOR, emergency management journals

What is the biggest training challenge at your company?

Budget and [getting] small business help

What is the most difficult part of managing an internal Training Center?

Buy-in from management and working within a limited budget

Can you share a favorite Good Samaritan story about your students?

One of my students is a nursing student, and one day she saw an older woman pass out and hit her head very hard on the sidewalk. She noticed the victim was bleeding, so she [pulled over to help] and told her friends that she [wouldn’t be at] the movie theater because applying her knowledge and helping a victim come first in her life, more than other things.

TC Name: AA Juliano F S Alves TC. Pocos De Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. www.sargentofigueiredo.com.br

Director: Juliano de Figueiredo Silverio Alves

How long have you been in business?

30 years as an external, for-profit ASHI TC

What is the biggest challenge for you and your business?

[The lack of] Portuguese materials

How do you market your business?

Website, direct mail, email marketing, radio/TV advertising, online advertising, ads in local publications, speaking as an emergency care expert at public events, and offering a free public class

Based on what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when you were starting out?

Invest in an agile, dynamic, and efficient website

Of your business or training investments that cost less than $500, what has given you the best return?

Sales through Facebook

Where do you go to stay current with the latest industry information and knowledge?

On the official websites of the AHA and ERC, scientific articles in English and American medical journals, and the courses I participate annually in both the AHA and the DAN [conferences]

What are some of the most common misconceptions or mistakes you have seen/heard in your career?

That the instructor does not need to [continually] update [their own training], and that students do not need continuing education

Can you share a favorite Good Samaritan story about your students?

Some basic diving students, who had taken a first aid course with me, found four shipwrecked victims trapped on an island. In addition to rescuing them, [my students] correctly [administered] first aid procedures [to] the crew and castaways.

We want to hear from you!

Share your wisdom with your TC peers by completing one of our 15-minute profile surveys.

If your TC provides training for individuals or organizations for a fee, click the "External TC" button. For those TCs that offer training for employees/members at no charge, choose "Internal TC."

Visit Us at the Y General Assembly in Anaheim

Since 2011, we're proud to be a preferred vendor for the YMCA, bringing our ASHI programs and excellent customer service to Y's across the nation.

If you will be attending the Y General Assembly conference, July 18-20, 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center, be sure to visit the ASHI booth (#469) and:

• Have your portrait done by our caricature artist (Thursday 1-4 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
• Add some flair to your look and show your ASHI pride with one of our new temporary tattoos
• Bring your questions about how YMCA preferred emergency care provider ASHI and HSI deliver the products and services you need to improve safety, health, and compliance at your locations and throughout your communities

We’ll be on the lookout for you at the Assembly!