How to Get CPR Certification - Grants for Medical

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.

However, While immediate CPR can significantly increase survival rates, the specific percentages of increased survival can vary and are not typically quantified as 200% to 300% increases.

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. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is still part of CPR for certain patient groups (e.g., infants and children, drowning victims), according to guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association. The approach to CPR, including the use of breaths, may vary based on the rescuer’s training and the specific situation.

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. The Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is typically the foundational level of CPR certification required for healthcare professionals, not the “Professional Rescuer CPR” certification. The term “lowest acceptable level” does not accurately describe the requirement for medical professionals, as BLS is a standard requirement and not considered a minimum or low level of training. 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.

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, While the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association are widely recognized for CPR training, the National Safety Council is more commonly associated with safety training rather than being a primary provider of CPR certification. Employers typically recognize certifications from the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association, among others. The emphasis on the National Safety Council might be misleading regarding CPR certification preferences.

Check with your employer about the standard of CPR certification that is 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, attend all sessions to 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. Ask your instructor to learn the right method if you have any doubts or queries.

Step 5 – Take the CPR certification test

Once you finish the required 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 when you will need to renew it. 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 want to enter a new career, especially in the medical and healthcare sectors.

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.