Does Combat Lifesaver Course certify me in First Aid/CPR/AED from the Red Cross?

2019-10-10T23:10:41-04:00

I'm attending CLS in a few weeks and was wondering if I'll receive a certification card from the Red Cross for First Aid/CPR/AED? I already have a Red Cross Certification for First Aid/CPR/AED, but it expires in April of 2020. PFC Private RallyPoint Member SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" LTC Stephen F. CPL Dave Hoover SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Private RallyPoint Member Capt Dwayne Conyers CPT Jack Durish

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 10 at 2019 11:12 PM

2019-10-10T23:12:57-04:00

No, but it is a school on your ERB.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Oct 10 at 2019 11:37 PM

2019-10-10T23:37:23-04:00

CPR cert is not part of CLS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 12:29 AM

2019-10-11T00:29:43-04:00

No, it teaches you how to apply tourniquets and TC3. CPR and AED are for heart attacks. You'll never use CPR on the battlefield and you'll (likely) never apply tourniquets on civilians as an LEO.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Oct 11 at 2019 12:46 AM

2019-10-11T00:46:04-04:00

Nope, the two are not compatible as far as skills. About all they share is the assessment of the victim, past that it is two different things altogether. CLS might go towards advanced life saving with the Red Cross but you will have to re-test or challenge to get your certification.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 1:01 AM

2019-10-11T01:01:51-04:00

If you use CLS skills on a civilian you open yourself up to lawsuits since it has zero civilian certification equivalency.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 7:49 AM

2019-10-11T07:49:21-04:00

As most have posted, I last took CLS in January of 2014 and it is as stated by others, more about combat injuries, stopping massive bleeding, how to apply tourniquets to limb, stop a sucking chest wound etc.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 9:11 PM

2019-10-11T21:11:08-04:00

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Oct 12 at 2019 7:04 AM

2019-10-12T07:04:16-04:00

As a CPR/First Aid/AED instructor (and graduate of CLS), I can tell you without hesitation, the answer is an unequivocal 'NO'. That being said, your course manager may include CPR/FA/AED as part of the curriculum. If so, you would receive a separate certification card for that.

As a side note....The new industry standard is moving to American Heart Association (AHA) certifications. Might be worth looking into one of those classes instead of Red Cross.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2019 11:34 PM

2019-10-16T23:34:42-04:00

Nope. But.......depending on what kind of work you're looking to get into after your time in the service it could help (at least from what I've found where I'm from). I got into security and most companies, especially ones for armed security, require you to be CPR/AED/1st AID certified, but, I have found a few companies that state they will accept a CLS certificate as a replacement even though, like others have already mentioned, CLS focuses on combat related injuries.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 2:07 PM

2019-10-24T14:07:25-04:00

Not at all.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2019 1:18 PM

2019-11-15T13:18:28-05:00

No. It trains you to perform critical lifesaving measures to yourself or a buddy in response to the 4 preventable causes of death on the battlefield:
1) Massive Hemorrhage from Extremity Wounds
2) Airway Compromise
3) Tension Pneumothorax
4) Hypothermia.
No other certifications or credentials are given/awarded.