First on the Scene (FOTS) Class in Reno
A short, hands-on NAEMT class for the public. Learn what to do in the minutes before EMS arrives: call 911, hands-only CPR and an AED, naloxone, epinephrine, and stopping life-threatening bleeding.
- About 4 hours
- No experience needed
- Hands-on skill stations
- Open to the public
First on the Scene
Developed by NAEMT and the International Association of Fire Chiefs to teach everyday people the basic emergency response that saves lives.
Taught at an authorized NAEMT Training Center in RenoUpcoming First on the Scene dates
Tap Register on any date to book online. Dates update live from our schedule.
Bring First on the Scene to your workplace, school, church, or club
First on the Scene is scheduled on request for groups. Tell us your head count and the dates that work, and we will teach it at our Reno classroom or at your location.
First on the Scene classes meet at 255 W Moana Ln, Suite 200 in Reno or at your location, and serve groups from Sparks, Carson City, Fernley, and Lake Tahoe.
About First on the Scene
In a real emergency, EMS is minutes away. The person standing right there is the one who can change the outcome.
First on the Scene (FOTS) was developed by NAEMT and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) to teach members of the public how to respond to life-threatening emergencies until EMS arrives. It is built for people with no medical background: parents, teachers, coaches, coworkers, and neighbors.
The class mixes short lessons with hands-on skill stations, so you leave having actually done the skills: activating 911, hands-only CPR and using an AED, giving naloxone for an opioid overdose, giving epinephrine for a severe allergic reaction, stopping life-threatening bleeding, managing a penetrating chest wound, moving a patient to safety, and positioning an injured person.
Need a certification card for work or school? Those employers usually want AHA Heartsaver CPR AED or First Aid. First on the Scene is an awareness class without a certification card.
Compare with HeartsaverFirst on the Scene class format
One short session, taught by NAEMT-approved instructors, for any group that wants to be ready.
First on the Scene class
About 4 hours of short lessons and hands-on skill stations. No reading, no test, no prerequisites. Everyone practices every skill.
See First on the Scene datesWorkplaces, schools, and community groups
We bring the class to your office, campus, church, or club, with enough manikins, trainer AEDs, and bleeding control kits for the whole group.
Request a group classWhat you'll learn in First on the Scene
The class covers the eight skills NAEMT and the IAFC built it around.
Activate 911
What to say, what the dispatcher needs, and how to get help moving fast.
Hands-only CPR and an AED
Push hard and fast, and turn on the AED. It talks you through the rest.
Naloxone for opioid overdose
Recognizing an overdose and giving nasal naloxone.
Epinephrine for severe allergic reactions
Recognizing anaphylaxis and using an epinephrine auto-injector.
Stop life-threatening bleeding
Direct pressure, wound packing, and tourniquets.
Penetrating chest injury
What to do for a stab or gunshot wound to the chest.
Moving someone to safety
Simple drags and carries when staying put is not an option.
Positioning an injured person
Recovery position and how to keep an injured person stable until help arrives.
Who should take First on the Scene?
First on the Scene is for everyone. No medical background, no prerequisites, no test.
- Parents, grandparents, and caregivers
- Teachers, coaches, and school staff
- Office teams and workplace safety committees
- Churches, clubs, and community groups
- Security, event, and venue staff
- Anyone who wants to be ready to help
Need a card for your job or program? Heartsaver CPR AED and Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED are the AHA certification classes most employers ask for.
See Heartsaver classesOn class day
- Wear comfortable clothes. You will kneel on the floor for CPR practice.
- Nothing to read or study beforehand.
- Arrive about 10 minutes early to park and find Suite 200. Late arrivals may be turned away.
Why take First on the Scene with Hinson CPR
Our First on the Scene instructors are the same paramedics and nurses who teach our professional courses, and they know exactly what bystanders need to do before the ambulance arrives.
NAEMT-approved instructors
First on the Scene is taught by NAEMT-approved EMS instructors using NAEMT's course materials.
Built for beginners
Plain language, short lessons, and hands-on practice. If you can push on a chest and tear open a package, you can do this.
Real equipment
Manikins, trainer AEDs, and bleeding control kits, with hands-on practice at every station.
Taught by working clinicians
Our instructors are experienced educators and working clinicians with real emergency care experience.
Small, friendly classes
Plenty of time to practice and ask questions, with no pressure and no test.
Your place or ours
Train in our Reno classroom, or we come to your workplace, school, church, or club.
A public course, not a certification
First on the Scene is an awareness and skills class for the public. It does not issue an NAEMT provider card or continuing education credit, and nobody needs one to take it. If you need a certification card for work or school, take an AHA Heartsaver class instead, or take both.
First on the Scene questions
Do I get a certification card?
No. First on the Scene is a public awareness class, so there is no NAEMT provider card and no continuing education credit. If your job or school requires a card, you want an AHA Heartsaver CPR AED or Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED class.
How long is the class?
Plan on about 4 hours. We keep the lessons short and spend most of the time at the skill stations.
Is there a test?
No. You practice each skill with an instructor until you are comfortable.
Do I need any experience or a license?
No. The class was designed for people with no medical background.
What is the difference between First on the Scene and Stop the Bleed?
Stop the Bleed covers bleeding control only. First on the Scene includes bleeding control plus hands-only CPR and AED use, naloxone, epinephrine, chest injuries, and moving and positioning patients.
How do I register?
Registration is online only. When a First on the Scene date is posted, pick it at the top of this page and tap Register to finish on our secure checkout. For a course scheduled on request, text (775) 235-2117 or email Info@HinsonCPR.com and we will set a date and send you the registration link. We cannot take registrations or payments over the phone.
What if I need to change my date?
Contact us before your class. All purchases are nonrefundable, and reschedules carry a fee under our terms and conditions.
Can you teach First on the Scene for my workplace, school, or group?
Yes. Most First on the Scene classes run as private classes for workplaces, schools, churches, clubs, and other community groups. We can teach at our Reno classroom or at your location. Text (775) 235-2117 or email Info@HinsonCPR.com with your head count and the dates that work for you.
Is Hinson CPR the same as Sierra BLS?
Yes. Hinson CPR is the new name for Sierra BLS. Same owner, same classroom on Moana Lane, and the same authorized NAEMT Training Center.
First on the Scene and the First on the Scene logo are trademarks of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), used here to promote registered NAEMT courses taught by Hinson CPR, formerly Sierra BLS, an authorized NAEMT Training Center. Use of the NAEMT name or course logos does not imply NAEMT endorsement of Hinson CPR or its other services.
What our students say
Rated 5.0 stars on Google from more than 330 student reviews.
Larry was fantastic! Class was broken into easily digestible sections, the mannequins & equipment was perfect for learning. Larry is so knowledgeable from his education and experience in the military and medical facilities. Highly recommend his courses.
Excellent experience overall. Instructor was prepared and able to answer all questions throughout. The instructor has a ton of experience and was able to properly correct our efforts without making us feel dumb. He was both patient and professional in all dealings.
Needed my BLS card for my EMS academy at TMCC. Terry... is a really knowledgeable person... Terry has a good set up, he means business and is ready to answer questions and give great advice. Highly recommended
You can tell Terance genuinely cares about his students' success. Such a professional and supportive environment... As a ICU nurse I recommend the BLS & ACLS classes!
The class was very informative and the hands-on were great. Larry is a very thorough teacher and was eager to answer any and all questions and explained different situations to help us understand the “why”. I would recommend his class to anyone.
It was so nice to find an on site course in a snap. I searched and found on a Tuesday and was completing my recert that Friday.
Be the person who knows what to do
About 4 hands-on hours, no experience needed. Pick a date, or text us to bring First on the Scene to your workplace, school, or group.