September/October Instructor Newsletter

It’s Fall!  We’re changing our clocks early tomorrow morning, and we’re updating a lot of things at the Training Center. We skipped the September newsletter as there were a lot of in-progress things we were finishing up.

Updates to the PAM

As part of the AHA Updates to the PAM, all Training Centers were required to have Instructor Contracts in place.  Previously Instructor Contracts were recommended, but not required.  We already had one in place, but updated it.  As part of our normal Instructor Onboarding and Renewals, we have all Instructors complete a new contract.  With your next renewal you will be signing a new one.

Quality Assurance Policies also went from recommended to required.  We have also updated our existing policy.

Both the updated Instructor Contract and the updated Quality Assurance Policy are posted in the Instructor Portal.  Instructor Portal (log in) > Forms and Documents > TC Forms and Documents.

Training Center Accountability Project 2026 (or Part 2)

In the Spring of 2025 the AHA announced the Training Center Accountability Project.  This project was to ensure Training Centers were providing oversight and accountability to their Training Sites and Instructors as well as taking responsibility for their actions.  Last year we were tasked with:

• Checking all class postings for accuracy and deleting postings that did not meet AHA posting criteria.
• Checking all Training Site and Instructor websites for accurate class postings. Website posting needed to match AHA Class Manager postings and vice versa.
• Checking all Training Site and Instructor websites for correct usage of AHA Seals and logos.

The Training Center Accountability Project (TCAP) is going to be an ongoing project.  We have until mid-December to check and act on the following:

• Training Sites and Instructors are using the correct AHA Seal and attribute the TC (more on this below!) and to require removal of incorrect and outdated logos.
• Checking class postings for virtual and RQI postings to check for accurace and removing non-compliant posts.

As of a few weeks ago we have completed checking all class postings in Atlas through the end of the year.  We are still checking Training Site and Instructor websites that we know of.  As we check websites we are also checking for use of the AHA Seals and logos.  So far we have not found any errors or issues to correct, but it is still a work in progress.

Use of the AHA Seals

The AHA has created Instructor (and Training Site) Seals for Instructors to use on marketing materials and on websites.  Below is an example that has the correct attribute for you to use.  You can copy this image to use or you can download it from our Instructor Portal (Instructor Documents for posting).

Instructors and Training Sites CANNOT use the older rectangular Training Center or Training Site logos. Instructors and Training Sites also CANNOT use the AHA Heart and Torch logo from the AHA website.

The full document on how to use the AHA Seals as well as downloads can be found in Atlas > Training Resources > Tools and Resources > US TC Seal & Web Guidelines.

While most Instructors are using the correct AHA Seal, they are not using that Seal correctly.  Instructors and Training Sites must attribute the Training Center they are aligned with.  The Instructor Seal in this newsletter and the provided link have the Instructor Seal image file with the attribution included so that Instructors do not need to try to add the text to the image and can easily post it. If you need a different file format or image size please feel free to contact Gail.

A Training Site version will be posted in the Instructor Portal shortly and will be in the next Training Site newsletter.

Referrals

Occasionally we get calls at the Training Center from students or organizations looking for training that are not anywhere near our Training Center in Hampton, NH.  They’re calling us because our name and number are listed on their last card.  Ideally they should also see the name of the Training Site or Instructor who taught their last class, but we seem to be getting these calls.

Most of the time we can figure out who they are trying to reach and we’ll forward their info to the correct Training Site or Instructor.  Sometimes though the message we’re getting is pretty cryptic and hard to provide a referral for.

This winter we are going to add a page to our website that will list our aligned Instructors and Training Sites that would like to be contacted for classes.  This is optional and not required.  To list your training organization you can either email Gail or fill in this short online form.

Training Faculty Updates

The AHA is working on a Training Faculty training program.  Last Spring Gail was on an AHA working group looking at this.  While there is no timeline for a formal AHA Training Faculty program or training yet, we have been working on our own Training Faculty program.

Currently we have a draft Training Faculty Contract and draft Training Faculty Manual completed.  This was a lot of work and we have several Training Faculty and Training Site Coordinators reviewing it for feedback.

Starting in 2027 we will be switching to a model with 2 levels of Training Faculty and a formal application and appointment system. All TF will mentor and monitor Instructors.  Some TF will also teach Instructor Essentials classes.  Training Faculty appointments will be for 2 years and will be renewed in conjunction with the TF’s Instructor Renewal.  There is no charge or costs involved with TF appointments as it is a voluntary role within the Training Center or Training Site.

Updates to Stop the Bleed

We had a great Stop the Bleed Instructor Training last month!  This past week Gail attended a STB webinar announcing major program changes to STB.

STB has a new website:  DODStoptheBleed.org.  They are creating a more formalized Instructor approval process and a 2-year Instructor card. They may be charging a fee to be a STB Instructor, the webinar had a poll for us to to pick what we thought was a fair amount.  Student completion certificates will be issued through the STB website and not directly by Instructors. And while they recommend offering STB for free, they are changing their guidelines on charging for classes to allow for-profit organizations to charge for the training.

STB Instructors should be receiving emails from STB about upcoming webinars.  If you are not and would like the link to the last webinar replay please contact Gail.

Questions? Please let us know!

We’ve had a lot of growth and changes over the past year and have been working on organizing and streamlining things to make your job as an Instructor easier.  But there is always room for improvement.  Please let us know how we’re doing and what we can do to support you to continue the good work that you are doing.

Gail Klanchesser  |  gail@coastalcpr.com  |  603-834-3177

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