Your First CPR Class in Lilburn: What to Expect

If you have never taken a CPR class before, it is natural to wonder what you are walking into. Will there be a test? Do you need to know anything beforehand? What if you get it wrong in front of everyone? This guide answers those questions for anyone booked into their first class at our classroom in Lilburn.

First, make sure it is the right course

The most common first-timer mistake is booking the wrong course. If you work in healthcare — or you are starting a clinical program — you almost certainly need BLS, the American Heart Association course for healthcare providers. If you are not a clinician and your employer wants “CPR and first aid”, you probably need Heartsaver. If anyone has named a specific course, book that one. If you are unsure, call us before you book; it takes two minutes and saves a wasted morning.

Before you come

• Wear comfortable clothes. You will kneel on the floor for much of the class, so choose something you can move in.
• Tell us about any injury. If kneeling or bending is difficult for you, mention it when you arrive; the instructor would much rather know.
• Bring your details right. Your eCard is issued to the name and email address you give us, so check they are correct.

You do not need to study anything beforehand for a first BLS or Heartsaver course. The class is built for people starting from scratch.

What happens in the room

Classes follow the American Heart Association’s official curriculum and are mostly hands-on. You watch the skill, then you practise it on a manikin — and practise it again — with an instructor watching and correcting as you go. Expect to cover recognising an emergency, getting help on the way, chest compressions, giving breaths, using an AED, and relieving choking.

Nobody expects you to be good at it the first time. The practice is the point: by the end, the sequence should feel automatic rather than something you have to think through.

The skills check

Every course ends with a hands-on skills check, where you show the instructor you can perform the skills to AHA standard on a manikin. BLS also includes a short written test. If you need another attempt at a skill, instructors can work with you on it — the aim is for everyone to leave able to do it, not to catch people out.

Afterwards

Students who successfully complete the course receive an official American Heart Association course completion eCard, valid for two years. Forward it to your employer or school, and put the date in your calendar — the easiest time to book your renewal is a few weeks before the card runs out.

Finding the classroom

We are at 5400 Lawrenceville Highway, Suite A-1, in Lilburn, on Lawrenceville Highway (US 29). Directions, the courses Lilburn students book most, and the next dates are on our Lilburn page.

GA Healthcare Training & Consulting is American Heart Association Faculty: courses use official AHA curriculum and materials and are taught by AHA-certified instructors. See fees on our CPR and Emergency Certification page, or pick a date on the class calendar.