CPR & AED Certification Course in NJ

What if someone collapsed in front of you on the trail, at the grocery store or at home, and had no pulse? Would you go right into action, or freeze and wish you knew what to do? CPR isn't rocket science. It's simple skills and lots of practice, and we want you walking out able to step in when it counts.

This is a hybrid course. You do the online learning on your own the week before, so the whole in-person class is hands-on practice on adult and infant manikins with real AED trainers.

• Heart attack vs. sudden cardiac arrest: the warning signs, and what to do when someone collapses with no pulse

• Assessment: scene safety, gloves and masks, checking responsiveness, pulse and breathing, and calling 911

• Chest compressions: hand position, rate, depth and recoil, practiced until you can keep it up

• Rescue breaths: using a CPR mask, head tilt and chin lift, and putting compressions and breaths together

• The AED: how it works and how to use it, practiced with AED trainers during full CPR cycles

• Children and infants: what changes for a child, and infant CPR

• Choking: helping a choking adult, child or infant

• Working as a team: taking turns, using a bag-valve mask, getting bystanders to help, and keeping CPR going until EMTs take over

Before class: about a week or two before, you get an email from HSI (Health & Safety Institute) with a link to the online learning, which takes a few hours. Finish it before the in-person class. Register at least a week ahead so you have time.

In class: the whole evening is hands-on skills practice in small groups, with instructors coaching every rep.

After class: you get a 2-year HSI CPR & AED for Adult, Child & Infant certification, which follows all American Heart Association (AHA) standards and treatment recommendations.

• Length: 2.5 hours in person, usually 7–9:30pm on a weeknight, plus a few hours of online learning beforehand

• Location: Usually the Ringwood Ambulance Corps, 115 Alta Vista Drive, Ringwood, NJ 07456. Check each date's location above.

• Certification: 2-year HSI CPR & AED for Adult, Child & Infant (follows AHA standards)

• Minimum age: 12 (a parent or guardian must also register and attend for anyone under 18)

• Prerequisite: None

• What to bring: A pencil and notepad, and a snack and drink. The class is indoors; wear clothes you can kneel on a mat in.

TrailBound's CPR instructors are EMTs, search & rescue medics and wilderness medicine instructors who have done CPR for real. Everyone who teaches this course:

• Scott Fitterman, Co-Founder: Instructor; Deputy Chief of NJSAR, NJSAR Mountain Rescue Unit (MRU) member, EMT, CPR, WFA, WFR & W-EMT instructor, Catskill 35er

• Joe Galvan, Co-Founder: Instructor; former NJSAR Lieutenant & Mountain Rescue Unit Lead, WFA & CPR instructor, technical rope rescue instructor

• Matt Kopacki: Instructor; pharmacist, EMT since 1979, CPR, WFA & Emergency Medical Responder instructor

• Jeffrey Greenberg: Instructor; NJSAR Medical Unit Lead, EMT, WFA, WFR & W-EMT instructor, Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine

• Mark Mielke: Instructor; NJSAR Lieutenant, Field Team Leader & Mountain Rescue Unit (MRU) member, Wilderness First Responder, WFA & CPR instructor

• Bill Winterbottom: Instructor; former Chief of Catskill Mountain Search & Rescue, Mountain Rescue Unit (MRU) member, EMT & firefighter, WFA, WFR & W-EMT instructor

• Burton Oh: Instructor

• Nancy Purnell: Assistant instructor; NJSAR Medical Unit member & K9 Support Unit Lead, Wilderness First Responder

• Alex (Sasha) Kovalyov: Assistant instructor; NJSAR Medical Unit & Mountain Rescue Unit member, EMT, Wilderness First Responder

Meet the whole team on The Cadre page.

5.0 from 289 Google reviews

“My CPR and First Aid training with TrailBound was so much more interesting than your average course. Their real life examples and explanations made the content easy to comprehend.”
— Mandi B., 2023

“The course was excellent and the instructors were really good at seeing that every one of us were able to correctly do the various procedures.”
— Alec M., NY-NJ Trail Conference sawyer, 2024

“I recently updated my CPR/First Aid Training through TrailBound Project. Scott and Joe are very knowledgeable …”
— Kelly B., 2023

Do I get certified?
Yes. You get a 2-year HSI CPR & AED for Adult, Child & Infant certification, which follows all American Heart Association standards. It's accepted by most employers, schools, camps and volunteer groups; check with yours if you're not sure.

What's the online part?
It takes a few hours, on your own time. HSI emails you a link a week or two before class. Finish it before you arrive. If class is within a week and you haven't gotten the email, or you can't finish it in time, let us know and we'll work it out.

Does it include first aid?
No, this course is CPR, AED and choking only. For first aid, take Wilderness First Aid.

Is it physical?
You'll kneel on mats and do chest compressions for a couple of minutes at a time. Let an instructor know if you have any limitations and we'll help you adapt.

Can my teenager take it?
Yes, from age 12, as long as a parent or guardian also registers and takes the course.

Can you teach CPR to our group or organization?
Yes. We run private CPR classes for scout troops, clubs, trail crews, camps and companies anywhere in the New Jersey or New York State area. Contact us.

What's your cancellation policy?
See our Registration & Refund Policy.

• Add first aid: Wilderness First Aid

• Hike prepared: Hiking Basics, Gear & Safety

• For your dog: Dog CPR, First Aid, & Hiking

• Counts toward: the Hiker rocker in the Rocker Program (already certified? just send us your current CPR card)