ACE Partners with American Heart Association

SAN DIEGO — Perhaps getting a jump on the soon-to-be law requiring health clubs in Illinois to have AEDs on site, The American Council on Exercise (ACE), recently announced a strategic partnership with the American Heart Association to provide Automated External Defibrillator (AED), CPR and First Aid training to its ACE course offerings.

In conjunction with the American Heart Association, more than 50 ACE faculty and staff members will be trained as Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED-certified instructors. This group will then provide the instruction needed to train and qualify all existing ACE-certified fitness professionals, as well as all newly ACE-certified fitness professionals in the near future.

“By adding AED and First Aid training to our educational offerings, we can help to ensure that our fitness professionals have all of the tools they need to provide immediate emergency response for their clients in their critical time of need,” said Ken Germano, president of ACE. “By joining with the American Heart Association, we add to our commitment to uphold the most exacting professional standards in the fitness industry.”

In November, ACE will begin offering an 8-hour American Heart Association-approved Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED training course to existing ACE-certified fitness professionals in 10 cities across the country with a goal to ultimately have all new and renewing ACE-certified fitness professionals AED certified.

“The partnership between the American Heart Association and ACE will increase the number of people who are trained with the latest science-based information to save lives,” said Robin McCune, ECC national accounts director, American Heart Association. “Members of fitness clubs and centers across the country can feel secure that ACE-certified fitness professionals not only can develop and guide their fitness programs, but also are prepared to save their lives if necessary.”