Defib This Emergency Response Training

Santa Cruz, United States

5

Open now

20 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 831-508-3661
Website:
defibthis.com
Address:
1543 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
230 ftCedar & Center northbound
240 ftCedar & Center southbound
260 ftFront & Pacific
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Today

Today 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Santa Cruz) 15:44 Monday, 30 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Defib This Emergency Response Training is a Santa Cruz-​based provider of American Heart Association training courses for physicians, nurses, paramedics, EMS professionals, and other medical professionals. In business since 2010, we have amassed an arsenal of experienced and dynamic Instructors who not only teach, but continue to work in care and maintain the skills they teach. In addition to our EMS training; EMR and EMT renewal courses, we also provide American Heart Associate courses such as ACLS, PALS, BLS, NRP, PEARS, CPR, and first aid to medical professionals and the general public. Contact us today to sign up for a class!

History

Established in 2010.

Started by Alex and Aki Williams (ret.) Flight nurses with over 25 years of experience in EMS and Nursing. Tired of seeing the fun and enthusiasm sucked out of medical and nursing education, they decided to take matters into their own hands and shake things up a bit. Doing it differently than any organization before them, and resuscitating, resuscitative medical education in the process using humor, creativity, common sense, and a deep respect for the professionals they serve and educate.

Meet the Business Owner

Alex and Aki W.

Business Owner

Alex has over 25 years experience in EMS and emergency/​Critical care nursing. He is a certified Instructor with National Association Emergency Medical Service Educators. He has worked as an EMT, a volunteer fire fighter, a paramedic in East Oakland, a Santa Cruz City Lifeguard and a Flight nurse as well as excelling in the fields of Critical Care and Emergency hospital nursing. Alex began teaching EMS courses in the 1980’s. Aki has over 22 years experience in health care. She has worked just about any job you can imagine in health care. She is a registered nurse specializing in emergency, critical care and pediatric nursing, trauma and flight nursing. She has been teaching since the late 90’s. Alex & Aki volunteer with the Santa Cruz 911 Networks, Ampsurf, they also provide CPR courses at a discount to SC county school teachers (k-​12) and people working in the recovery community.

Nearby

Near this location:
30
ft
Santa Cruz City Soccer
1543 Pacific Ave
40
ft
Mr. Goodie’s Antiques & Collectibles
1541 Pacific Ave
40
ft
Hidden Peak Teahouse
1541-C Pacific Ave
40
ft
Benten Traditional Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar
1541- B Pacific Ave
50
ft
Monice Tunheim, CPA
1543 Pacific Ave Ste 218
110
ft
Giavaneers
1545 1/2 Pacific Ave

20 reviews of Defib This Emergency Response Training

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
Defib This volunteers emergency medical staff for Santa Cruz Roller Derby games. They are professional, knowledgable, and take such great care of our skaters. They are also a very fun crew to have around. Thank you Defib This, SCDG loves you!!!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
Love the experience of recertification with Defib This. Polite and professional staff and great attention to our comfort while there.
Place rating: 5
Salinas, CA
Defib This was recommended to me by a highly skilled PACU nurse I work with. Thank you Jessica B. Stressed and anxious I was immediately calmed down by wonderful familiar faces, Andrea one of them and the whimsical, albeit macabre paintings on the wall. Mike S. was a wonderful instructor. He is extremely qualified to teach this class. He was very patient with my questions and my off the wall anxiety level. I love this place and guess what? I am actually looking forward to taking PALS, for once. Thank you Defib This.
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
I’m a student at Cabrillo College (Medical Assisting) and had to take the BLS for providers class. I thought it was going to be super boring, as my First Aid class was (somewhere else), couldn’t be further from the truth. First, the rooms are decorated in a super fun way, their equipment is nice, clean and have indicators for when you are doing things right, and not so right… but most of all the instructors are super nice, and answer all our questions. Totally recommend it!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
This was my second certification experience with them and as usual, very professionally done and I got what I paid for.
Place rating: 5
Fremont, CA
I took ACLS provider course here after being recommended by a friend. Being an L&D nurse, ACLS can always be nerve wracking. The front desk staff were very friendly and helpful they made the whole process so much easier. The supplemental materials you get with registration helps to know what areas to focus on. Mike and Marshall make the class fun and easy to understand. Marshall was great with the Mega Code and it was low stress compared to another ACLS class I did at another facility. Both instructors were super knowledgeable and really try to help you understand especially if you don’t use ACLS all the time. I will be taking future classes here for sure. Highly recommended!
Place rating: 5
Seaside, CA
I come here whenever I need recertification! It’s a great place! I recommend this place to anyone that wants quality education.
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
I have taken a ton of recertification courses over the course of my career. I recently took a PALS and ACLS class at Defib This and had one of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had to to date. They have an extremely knowledgeable staff. The groups are smaller and hands on. There is nice equipment and a very informative and low stress environment. The bonus is the great location close to coffee and lunch spots. Show up early to find a place to park, grab a cup and enjoy your experience. I did.
Place rating: 5
Oroville, CA
Defib This is the ONLY place to take BLS, ACLS, PALS, etc.
Aki, Alex, and all the instructors are THE BEST!!! They are thorough with the required material, but also make it easy to understand and remember. Defib This instructors are so GREAT they make even the most nervous student comfortable running a code! I’d NEVER go anywhere else!
Place rating: 5
Capitola, CA
I have had the good fortune to find Defib This a few years ago when I was trying to arrange a group ACLS for myself and nursing school classmates. Aki was incredibly supportive and flexible with as we went through the process of getting 25 people to match their schedules and commit to taking the class. I have now completed EKG and Pharm, ACLS, BLS and am about to take PALS with Defib’s amazing crew of educators. Hands down the best experience ever.
The Instructors at Defib don’t approach it as just another hoop to jump through to maintain your certificates; but instead put the time and energy into really teaching the material as the impactful and life-​saving material that it is. They make sure that when you walk out their door with your certificate in hand, that you are ready to make practical use of the knowledge and skills they just shared with you. As a former nursing student and now RN, this is hands down the best place in town to learn these critical skill sets.
Thanks Defib! You guys absolutely ROCK!
Place rating: 5
Ashland, OR
Class started on time and instructor conducted the lesson in a professional manor. Time was allowed for questions and appropriate break times given. Great analogies given to explain complicated topics. I will be returning for future classes!
Place rating: 5
San Luis Obispo, CA
Awesome place! Aki and Alex are incredibly friendly, fun, and intelligent. They have a really good way of presenting difficult material in a fun and intuitive manner. Can’t recommend this place enough!
Place rating: 5
Scotts Valley, CA
I took the Acute Care Nursing (ACN) Prep Course. The course was amazing with a lot of information. One of the owners/​instructor, Aki, has an analogy that is spot-​on. She says that the course is like «standing in front of a fire hose and turning it on»… Even though this analogy felt true, the instructors delivered pertinent information with humor. Most importantly, they were nonjudgmental towards questions and extremely supportive and friendly. All my instructors during this course showed astounding skills and I will definitely be returning in the future for my recerts.
Place rating: 5
Salinas, CA
Great place. Knowledgable, fun, interactive and supportive. I would highly recommend them for PALs, ACLS, BLS or EMT!
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
This fall I took the EMT course at Defib This, and was far more than satisfied with my experience throughout the 10 week course. (I have also taken their CPR/​First Aid and BLS classes) All of the staff are extremely knowledgable and very approachable if you have questions about any of the course material. The combination of in-​class lectures and hands on practice prepared me to enter the field with confidence. Everybody who works there is passionate about teaching, which makes each class enjoyable and something I looked forward to every week. I would highly recommend taking any needed class at Defib This, I’ll definitely be back in the future!
Place rating: 5
Watsonville, CA
Exceptional service, user friendly, lots of classes so their available in a pinch. Staff is great from the front desk to the instructors. I recommend this place to anyone that needs a re-​certification or to take a class. I’m going back their for the renewal of my c.p.r card.
Place rating: 5
Aptos, CA
If you need to take any first aid classes, speciality classes or recertification classes, this is the place to come! Professional and friendly! The owners are awesome and keep up to date with current medical trends. I have taken several classes there and will be back
Place rating: 5
Aptos, CA
Took the community level CPR class today. Instructor was Ron; very knowledgable and professional, but still personable. I’ve had the class before from other sources, and this was the first time I’ve walked away feeling like I could really help someone that needs CPR. Highly recommend.
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
Community oriented, great selection of classes. The classrooms are vibrantly painted with nice murals to keep your brain occupied when recerting.
Place rating: 5
Soquel, CA
I recently took my third class through Defib and just like the other two, this was a great class! The instructors are all very knowledgable and encouraging. I was really nervous to take both ACLS and PALS, but they really make you feel right at home. I highly reccomend to anyone that needs any sort of medical certification to go through Defib This. I will definitely use them for all my future classes!