Training for First Responders

CPR Course for
First Responders

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RECOVER CPR Training

Online Course Overview

Be Prepared to Respond When an Animal Needs CPR

Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) can happen to dogs and cats in many emergency situations, including trauma, choking, and other acute, reversible causes. Starting CPR quickly can be critical to supporting an animal until veterinary care is available.

The RECOVER CPR – First Responders Course teaches essential CPR skills designed specifically for first responders who may encounter animals in the field.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is designed for:

  • Firefighters
  • Law enforcement personnel
  • Military personnel
  • Emergency responders
  • Other first responders who may encounter animals during emergencies

Whether responding to a working dog, a family pet, or an animal involved in an emergency situation, this course helps you prepare to provide immediate CPR when veterinary care is not yet available.

What Will You Learn?

Participants will learn how to:

  • Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in dogs and cats
  • Begin CPR quickly and confidently
  • Perform high-quality Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Deliver effective chest compressions
  • Provide practical ventilation
  • Use equipment commonly available on emergency response rigs
  • Continue providing critical support until veterinary care is available

Training for Departments, Stations & Teams

RECOVER CPR training can also be a valuable addition to department-wide or team training programs. Departments, stations, agencies, and other organizations can use the course to help prepare multiple team members to respond confidently when an animal requires CPR.

Interested in training your entire team? Group training and bulk enrollment options are available, making it easier to provide CPR education across your organization.

Engaging, Online Learning

The course combines:

  • Educational videos
  • Interactive quizzes
  • Evidence-based CPR techniques
  • Practical guidance for field response

The course is designed to help you build the knowledge and confidence needed to recognize CPA and begin CPR without delay.

Why Train with RECOVER?

Recognized

RECOVER CPR is the only official pet CPR certification recognized by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS), and is a non-profit program.

Upon completing the course, participants receive an official RECOVER certificate of completion.

Developed by Veterinary CPR Experts

The course is based on the RECOVER evidence-based veterinary CPR guidelines, developed through collaboration among more than 300 board-certified veterinary specialists and experts from around the world.

RECOVER leaders developed this course in collaboration with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to help first responders learn the core CPR skills needed to respond to canine and feline emergencies.

CPR Course for First Responders

Course Fee: $35

RECOVER CPR for First Responders is intended for First Responders who want to be prepared to perform CPR on dogs and cats in the field, using equipment commonly found on their rigs.

  • Rapidly determine if an unresponsive patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest using a structured assessment approach
  • Perform high-quality chest compressions in dogs and cats of varying sizes and chest conformations
  • Apply appropriate ventilation techniques during CPR, including when and how to deliver breaths effectively

  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Total Modules: 1
  • Self-paced
  • Fully online

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions that are not addressed, please contact us at in**@***************ve.org.

The RECOVER CPR – First Responders Course is designed for firefighters, law enforcement personnel, military personnel, emergency responders, working animal handlers, and other first responders who may encounter dogs or cats during emergencies.

The course is also suitable for departments, stations, agencies, and teams looking to provide CPR training to multiple members of their organization.

Yes. The course is completed online, allowing participants to learn at their own pace and access the training without attending an in-person class.

The course takes approximately 1 hour to complete. It includes educational videos and quizzes covering essential veterinary CPR skills for first responders.

Yes. The course covers essential CPR skills for both dogs and cats, including how to recognize cardiopulmonary arrest and provide Basic Life Support (BLS).

Participants will learn how to:

  • Recognize cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) in dogs and cats
  • Initiate CPR quickly and confidently
  • Perform high-quality Basic Life Support (BLS)
  • Provide effective chest compressions
  • Provide practical ventilation
  • Use equipment commonly available in emergency response settings
  • Provide critical support until veterinary care is available

The course is designed around equipment commonly available to first responders in the field. The online training focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to recognize CPA and initiate CPR using available resources.

Yes. Participants who complete the course receive an official RECOVER certificate of completion.

The course is endorsed by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) and the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS).

Yes. The First Responders Course is specifically designed for non-veterinary first responders who may need to provide emergency CPR to dogs or cats before veterinary care is available. No veterinary background is required to learn the core CPR skills taught in the course.