How to Get CPR Certification – Overview
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is useful in situations where a person is unable to breathe and does not have a pulse. This skill is extremely useful and critical to saving a life in a life-threatening situation, such as a drowning accident or a heart attack.
The goal of CPR is to compress the chest and the heart so that blood can be pumped to the brain, in some form.
It is vital to act quickly in such situations. According to experts, if CPR is not begun within two minutes of the heart-stopping, the risk of brain damage increases dramatically. Effectively, around 90% of people who suffer a heart attack die before reaching a hospital.
However, starting CPR within two minutes can increase the chances of survival by an astonishing 200% to 300%.
However, CPR is a skill that needs to be learned. Amateur CPR attempts can increase the risk of fatality so getting CPR certification is incredibly important.
Remember, most people don’t get CPR training because they think they don’t have the time to invest. Others may be put off by the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation however, this is no longer considered to be part of the standard CPR procedure.
In fact, most CPR classes take only around 2 to 3 hours to complete.
What is CPR Certification?
How to Get CPR Certification – What is CPR Certification?
A CPR certification qualifies you to perform the life-saving procedure in life-threatening situations. This certification involves learning about cardiopulmonary resuscitation, with the help of chest compressions mainly.
Some CPR certification courses also include rescue ventilation techniques as part of the certification requirement. The combination of chest compressions and rescue ventilation boosts the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body.
CPR-certified individuals are often employed in hospitals and other medical settings, but they can use the skill in public too, if necessary.
When you become CPR certified, you essentially qualify to help prevent brain damage or death in a patient whose heart has stopped beating. This can help to improve the patient’s chances of achieving full recovery with no prevalent adverse effects.
How to Get CPR Certification?
Here is a simple six-step process to get CPR certification:
Step 1 – Decide the type of CPR certification
It is highly recommended to do a little research into the varied CPR courses available today, online and offline. Choose the one which benefits your professional goals and sign up.
For instance, you can choose to take adult CPR classes. In these classes, you will learn basic CPR methods that can be effectively used on adults. Some CPR classes focus on teaching CPR classes that can be used on children between 8 and 18.
There are also CPR certification courses that focus on teaching advanced CPR methods that can be safely used on infants, toddlers and children younger than 8 years of age.
Also, you can pursue CPR certification for advanced cardiovascular life support or professional rescuers. Professional rescuer CPR certification is the lowest acceptable level of CPR certification for medical professionals. It is highly useful in outpatient rehabilitation centers and even doctor’s offices.
You should seek advanced cardiovascular life support CPR certification if you work in a medical setting with high-risk patients.
Step 2 – Find a CPR certification class
Once you decide the type of CPR certification you want to pursue, find an in-person class in your area. You can find CPR certification classes usually at hospitals, community health centers, community colleges, and even the local fire department.
Remember, you will find dozens of online CPR certification classes but the instructions on these are not sufficient if you want to work in a profession that is covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administrator’s regulations.
However, you can also find a hybrid form of CPR certification course that combines online classes with in-person practice and instructions to meet the organization’s criteria.
Step 3 – Make sure to sign-up for an accredited CPR certification class
Nearly every commercial organization can host a CPR class and issue certificates to show that the participants have trained.
However, most employers prefer candidates who have taken CPR certification classes that the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association and the National Safety Council approve.
Check with your employer about the standard of CPR certification acceptable before you sign up for any classes.
Step 4 – Sign-up and take the training
Once you have signed up for the right CPR certification class, make sure to attend all sessions so you can learn the proper technique and form. You should take notes, observe the instructors closely and study any take-home material to learn CPR techniques most effectively.
When you feel ready, you can start practicing what you learned. If you have any doubts or queries, make sure to ask your instructor to learn the right method.
Step 5 – Take the CPR certification test
Once you finish the required number of classes or training sessions, you can take the test that grants you your CPR certification with a passing score. This test usually involves students performing a demonstration in person.
Some tests may also include a written portion for students to test their knowledge of the specifics, such as the number of compressions and the ideal depth.
Once you have been CPR certified, check to see if when you will need to renew the certification. Some employers require employees to renew their CPR certification periodically, to prove that they have the most updated knowledge and skills.
Usually, the CPR certification renewal course is significantly shorter.
Conclusion
Getting CPR certified can be an excellent decision if you are looking to enter a new career, especially in the medical and healthcare sector.
Apart from this, if you work in child care or even the sports industry, there are numerous positions that require the candidate to be CPR certified, such as lifeguards, firefighters, nannies, nurses, flight attendants and social workers.
Besides this, getting CPR certified can also help you qualify for volunteer positions and get additional experience in your field. This certification course actually makes you a more impressive candidate who can help others in an emergency.
Reference links
https://www.cprcertified.com/blog/basic-cpr-certification-requirements
https://www.verywellhealth.com/before-you-take-a-cpr-class-1298417
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