When a medical emergency strikes, every second counts — and most emergencies happen long before an ambulance arrives. The BVAC First Response Essentials course gives everyday people the knowledge and confidence to take action when it matters most. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, caregiver, workplace leader, or community member, this training provides the critical life-saving skills needed to respond quickly, correctly, and calmly.

Hosted at the BVAC Rescue Response Training Center in Bayside, Queens, one of New York City’s longest-standing community safety organizations, this course blends CPR, bleeding control, emergency medication response, and realistic hands-on practice to prepare you for real-world emergencies at home, work, school, and beyond.

Why First Response Essentials Matters

Medical emergencies are unpredictable and can strike anyone, anywhere. Heart attacks, cardiac arrest, severe bleeding, allergic reactions, choking, and opioid overdoses are among the most common life-threatening emergencies in New York — and the actions taken in the first 2–4 minutes often determine survival.

The First Response Essentials course gives you the ability to:

• Recognize and respond to life-threatening emergencies early

• Provide immediate, effective care before EMS arrives

• Protect your family, coworkers, and community

• Reduce panic and increase confidence in high-stress moments

• Bridge the crucial gap between incident and professional medical care

No medical background is required — just the willingness to help others and learn essential skills.

What You’ll Learn in First Response Essentials

This course combines the most important emergency-response skills used by first responders, workplace teams, and community leaders.

AHA BLS CPR for Adults, Children & Infants

Learn how to:

• Perform high-quality chest compressions

• Deliver rescue breaths

• Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

• Recognize cardiac arrest quickly

These skills are vital for sudden collapses, drowning incidents, choking events, and unresponsiveness in people of all ages.

Stop the Bleed: Bleeding Control Skills

Severe bleeding is one of the most treatable causes of preventable death.

You will learn:

• Direct pressure techniques

• Proper wound packing

• How to apply a commercial tourniquet

• How to recognize life-threatening hemorrhage

These skills save lives in accidents, workplace injuries, acts of violence, and major trauma.

Emergency Medication Response: EpiPen & Naloxone (NARCAN)

Two of today’s most common life-saving medication interventions:

EpiPen®

Learn to recognize anaphylaxis and administer epinephrine safely and effectively.

Naloxone/NARCAN®

Understand how to reverse an opioid overdose using intranasal naloxone — a life-saving skill relevant in both public and private settings.

Realistic, Hands-On Training

This course is not lecture-only. You’ll train using:

• CPR manikins

• AED trainers

• Tourniquets and wound-packing models

• Realistic emergency scenarios

BVAC instructors come from EMS, tactical medicine, law enforcement, and emergency response backgrounds — giving you practical, real-world insight.

How This Training Helps You in Real Life

Confidence During Emergencies

Instead of freezing or panicking, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Protect Your Family at Home

Most emergencies — cardiac arrest, choking, allergic reactions — happen inside the home.

Safer Workplaces & Community Spaces

Schools, businesses, gyms, faith-based organizations, and residential buildings benefit when staff members have emergency response skills.

Be the Person Who Steps Up

You become a capable responder instead of a bystander.

Why Choose BVAC Rescue Response Training Center?

BVAC has been serving Queens for over 70 years, transitioning from ambulance operations to one of NYC’s most recognized emergency training centers.

You receive instruction from:

• American Heart Association Authorized Training Site

• NAEMT & Health & Safety Institute Certified Instructors

• Veteran EMS providers and tactical medicine specialists

• State-of-the-art training equipment and simulation tools

At BVAC, you’re not just taking a class — you’re joining a trusted community dedicated to public safety and lifesaving education.

Who Should Take First Response Essentials?

This course is ideal for:

• Parents & caregivers

• Teachers, paraprofessionals, and school staff

• Camp counselors & youth program leaders

• Security, concierge, and workplace safety teams

• Fitness coaches, trainers, and gym staff

• Faith-based communities

• Anyone who wants to protect their family or neighborhood

No prior training or medical experience is needed.

A Complete, Practical Emergency Response Course for Everyday Life

The BVAC First Response Essentials class is one of the most comprehensive and accessible emergency preparedness courses in Queens, NY. It equips everyday people with the ability to manage CPR, severe bleeding, allergic reactions, choking emergencies, and opioid overdoses — the most common life-threatening scenarios today.

Whether you want to protect your family, support your workplace, or contribute to a safer community, this training gives you the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience to save a life when every second counts.