How to Prepare for Your ACLS Course: Tips Straight From the Instructors

Taking an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) course can feel a little intimidating at first. But don’t worry! With some simple prep, you’ll walk into class feeling confident and ready to crush it.

We asked experienced instructors for their top tips to help you get the most out of your ACLS training. Here’s what they said:

1. Understand What ACLS Really Is

ACLS isn’t just about CPR. It’s about managing serious heart emergencies like cardiac arrest, stroke, and other life-threatening problems. You’ll spend time in the classroom and get hands-on practice too.

2. Brush Up on Your Basic Life Support (BLS) Skills

Before ACLS, you want to be solid on your BLS skills. That means chest compressions, rescue breaths, and using an AED confidently. ACLS builds on these basics, so it’s important to have them down first.

3. Get to Know the ACLS Algorithms

ACLS uses step-by-step guides called algorithms for emergencies. These include the Cardiac Arrest, Bradycardia, and Tachycardia algorithms. Take some time to review them before class. You can find these on the American Heart Association (AHA) website.

Pro tip: Print them out or save them on your phone for quick review.

4. Practice Reading EKG Rhythms

You’ll need to recognize heart rhythms like ventricular fibrillation, asystole, and supraventricular tachycardia. If you’re a bit rusty, don’t stress! Spend some time looking at rhythm strips. There are free online tools that can help you practice.

5. Learn About ACLS Medications

Familiarize yourself with the main drugs used during ACLS — like epinephrine, amiodarone, and atropine. Know what each drug does, when to give it, and the correct doses.

6. Complete the Precourse Self-Assessment

Most ACLS courses ask you to do a self-assessment before class. It helps you spot what you already know and what needs more practice. Don’t skip this step — it’s super helpful!

7. Practice Team Communication

ACLS is all about teamwork. During class, you’ll run mock scenarios where clear, quick communication is key. Try practicing closed-loop communication — that means saying things like, “I’m starting compressions,” or “Epinephrine given.” It keeps everyone on the same page and shows leadership.

8. Use Trusted Study Materials

Stick with official resources from the American Heart Association or your training center. Avoid outdated or unofficial guides — your course will follow the latest AHA guidelines.

9. Get Rested and Ready

ACLS classes are intense. You’ll be learning, practicing, and being tested. So get a good night’s sleep before class. Bring water, snacks, and a notebook to stay sharp and energized.

10. Stay Calm and Ask Questions

Finally, don’t stress if you get stuck. Instructors are there to help you learn. If something isn’t clear, just ask. Everyone was new to ACLS once!

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Final Thoughts

Preparing for your ACLS course might take some time, but it’s totally worth it. Brush up on BLS, study those algorithms, and practice your EKGs. With these tips from instructors, you’ll be ready to pass the course — and maybe even save a life one day.

Ready to sign up? You can register for a class here: https://resqtraining.enrollware.com/schedule

When someone’s heart stops, every second matters. That’s where CPR comes in. But have you ever wondered how chest compressions actually help? The answer lies in the body’s biology.

Let’s break it down.

What Happens When the Heart Stops

Normally, the heart pumps blood. This blood carries oxygen to the brain, heart, and other vital organs.

But during cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping. Blood flow stops. Oxygen doesn’t reach the brain. Within minutes, brain damage can begin.

Why Chest Compressions Matter

Chest compressions act like an artificial heartbeat. When you push down on the chest, you’re squeezing the heart between the breastbone and spine.

This force pushes blood out of the heart and into the body. When you let go, the chest rises. The heart refills with blood.

Push. Release. Push. Release. That’s how blood keeps moving.

Circulating Oxygen

Here’s the key: CPR doesn’t restart the heart. But it does move oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other organs.

If someone stops breathing, their blood still holds oxygen—for a little while. Compressions help circulate that oxygen until emergency help or a defibrillator arrives.

Compression Quality Matters

Good CPR means:

• Compressing at a rate of 100–120 per minute

• Going at least 2 inches deep (for adults)

• Allowing full recoil between compressions

• Minimizing pauses

Every detail counts. Shallow compressions or long pauses reduce the effectiveness.

Keeping the Brain Alive

The brain is sensitive. Without oxygen, it can suffer damage in just 4 to 6 minutes.

CPR keeps blood and oxygen flowing to the brain. It buys time. It gives the person a fighting chance.

Final Thoughts

Chest compressions don’t fix the heart. But they keep blood moving. They protect the brain. And they bridge the gap until medical help arrives.

That’s the science. That’s the power of CPR.

Want to learn proper technique and boost your confidence in an emergency? Consider taking a certified CPR class.

When every second counts, knowing how to perform CPR correctly can save a life. But CPR isn’t one-size-fits-all. Babies and children aren’t just small adults—their bodies are different, and so is the way you help them. Here’s what you need to know.

First, Know the Basics

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It combines chest compressions with rescue breaths to keep blood and oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs. In adults, the focus is often on compressions. But with infants and children, rescue breaths matter more.

Why? Because in kids, cardiac arrest is usually caused by breathing problems. Their hearts stop because they can’t get enough oxygen—not because of heart disease, like in adults. So fixing the airway and breathing is crucial.

Key Differences: Babies vs. Children vs. Adults

1. Check for Response

• Babies (under 1 year): Tap the foot and shout.

• Children (1–puberty): Tap the shoulder and ask loudly, “Are you OK?”

• Adults: Same as with children, but usually less fragile.

2. Call for Help—But When?

• If you’re alone with a child or baby: Give 2 minutes of CPR first, then call 911.

• If someone else is there: Have them call immediately while you start CPR.

• With adults: Call 911 first, then begin CPR.

This slight difference could save precious seconds.

3. Airway and Breathing

• Babies: Use a gentle head tilt. Don’t push too far back—it can block the airway. Cover both the mouth and nose with your mouth when giving breaths.

• Children: Use the head-tilt, chin-lift method. Pinch the nose and breathe into the mouth, just like with adults—but with less force.

• Adults: Same method, but bigger breaths.

4. Chest Compressions

• Babies: Use two fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line. Press down about 1.5 inches deep.

• Children: Use one or two hands depending on the size of the child. Push down about 2 inches.

• Adults: Use both hands. Push at least 2 inches deep.

Compression rate? Always 100–120 beats per minute, like the rhythm of Stayin’ Alive.

Why These Differences Matter

A baby’s chest is tiny and fragile. Too much force can cause injury. But too little won’t help. The same goes for breathing—small lungs need small breaths.

Children may need more force than infants, but still less than adults. That’s why CPR training stresses different techniques for different ages.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to perform CPR on a child or infant could mean the difference between life and death. It only takes minutes to learn, and it lasts a lifetime.

Take a course. Practice. Review it often. You never know when you’ll be the one who can step in—and save a life.

You can sign up for a course with RESQ & Arise here: Sign up for a class