Adult & Pediatric CPR, AED, and First-aid Certification

If you’re looking for a flexible way to earn your American Red Cross First Aid, CPR, and AED certification, today’s training options make it easier than ever to learn lifesaving skills without giving up hands-on practice. One of the most popular formats combines online learning with a virtual instructor and in-person CPR manikin practice, giving students the best of both worlds: convenience, expert guidance, and real skill-building that prepares you to respond in an emergency.

What Is an American Red Cross First Aid CPR AED Certification Course?

An American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED certification course is designed to teach everyday people and professionals how to respond quickly and confidently in medical emergencies. The goal is to help you recognize a crisis, take action immediately, and provide care until advanced medical help arrives.

These courses are commonly required for jobs and programs in childcare, education, fitness, healthcare, security, construction, and workplace safety. They’re also extremely valuable for parents, coaches, caregivers, and anyone who wants to be prepared for real-life emergencies at home or in public.

The Modern Training Format: Virtual Instructor + Manikin Practice

Many students love the convenience of a course that includes a virtual instructor-led experience. In this format, you may join a live session where an instructor walks you through critical topics, answers questions in real time, and demonstrates key techniques. Even though the instructor is virtual, the training still feels interactive and structured—especially compared to learning totally on your own.

The most important part of CPR training is still the hands-on portion. That’s why this course involves practice on CPR manikins. You’ll use training manikins to rehearse real skills like:

Correct hand placement and compression technique
Proper compression depth and rate
How to deliver rescue breaths (when included)
Using an AED trainer safely and efficiently

This “practice + feedback” approach helps you build real muscle memory, which matters because CPR is a physical skill. Reading about CPR is not the same as doing CPR.

What You’ll Learn in First Aid Training

The First Aid portion covers how to respond to common injuries and illnesses that happen at home, at work, or in everyday life. You’ll learn how to assess a situation and provide care while staying safe yourself.

Key first aid topics often include:

Recognizing life-threatening emergencies, including severe bleeding and shock. You’ll learn when to call 911, how to stay calm under pressure, and what steps to take immediately.

Responding to bleeding, burns, and injuries. This can include using direct pressure, applying bandages, treating minor and serious burns, and caring for sprains or broken bones until help arrives.

Handling sudden illness. Students typically learn what to do for allergic reactions, asthma emergencies, seizures, choking, fainting, diabetic emergencies, and more.

Many courses also cover when to move a person (and when not to), how to monitor them for changes, and how to communicate clearly with emergency responders.

CPR Skills You’ll Practice on Manikins

The CPR section is where your hands-on training becomes essential. CPR saves lives because it helps circulate oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs until normal breathing and heartbeat can be restored.

During manikin practice, students learn how to:

Check responsiveness and breathing quickly. Time matters during sudden cardiac arrest, so you’ll practice moving through the first steps fast and safely.

Perform high-quality chest compressions. This includes the correct rate, depth, and allowing the chest to fully recoil between compressions. In a skills-focused class, instructors emphasize compressions because they are the foundation of effective CPR.

Provide care for adults, children, and infants (when included). Techniques can change slightly depending on the age group, so training often covers different approaches and practice sequences.

AED Training: A Must-Have Skill

An AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a device that can restore a normal heart rhythm in certain cardiac emergencies. The great news is that AEDs are designed to be user-friendly, even for people without medical experience.

In your training, you’ll practice using an AED trainer to learn:

How to turn the unit on and follow voice prompts
Where to place AED pads correctly
When to stand clear and allow the shock
How to continue CPR immediately after a shock

Many people feel nervous about AEDs at first, but practice builds confidence quickly. Once you understand the steps, using an AED becomes straightforward—and it can truly make the difference between life and death.

Who Should Take This Course?

This certification course is ideal for anyone who wants a recognized credential and real skills, including:

Teachers and school staff
Daycare providers and nannies
Nurses, medical students, and caregivers
Coaches and youth sports volunteers
Construction workers and workplace safety teams
Parents, grandparents, and everyday community members

Whether you need it for a job requirement or personal peace of mind, the skills you learn can be used anywhere.

Why This Format Works So Well

The combination of a virtual instructor and hands-on CPR manikin practice gives students structure, accountability, and real experience. You get clear explanations and coaching while still building the physical skills that can’t be learned through videos alone.

At the end of the course, students will receive the official American Red Cross certification (based on course completion requirements). Most importantly, you walk away feeling confident that if an emergency happens, you won’t freeze—you’ll know what to do.

Because when seconds matter, training matters.