Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an effective first aid procedure administered on unresponsive people who’ve stopped breathing.
CPR aids in maintaining vital flow of blood to the brain and heart. It also helps in increasing the duration of electric shock provided via a defibrillator, thereby, making the process more effective. Normally CPR rescue would involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but when the mouth has sustained major injuries or can’t open, mouth to nose resuscitation can also be applied.
How Important is CPR During Emergencies
CPR is particularly important in life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, suffocation or drowning. In the event of an accident and a bystander does not perform CPR, the survival chances of a victim will decrease 7% in every single minute of delay. Swift action is therefore necessary. Ideally, this technique works by applying pressure on the heart through gentle chest compression to restores blood circulation to the brain, allowing a victim to slowly regain consciousness.
Considering Taking CPR Certification?
CPR certification is one of the elements in a basic life support class designed to equip health care professionals, and most public safety workers with vital first aid training to handle life-threatening medical emergencies.
While most people often perceive CPR training only from the traditional angle of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, this is no longer a standard CPR practice instead, the course involves comprehensive first-aid training. A typical CPR class will take at least an hour to complete.
If you are considering to enroll for CPR certification, here are a few things you need to know to make an informed decision.
Types of CPR Classes Available
As mentioned earlier, CPR is one of the basic life support training the others being automated external defibrillator (AED) and first-aid training. CPR is a short course and it’s often designed for a specific audience; paramedics, for instance, would receive different training to an individual who’s just interested in CPR certification training. And though the course elements are relatively standardized, the course often differs. Here are the three broad categories of CPR training.
Adult CPR Courses
This is the most basic form of CPR which takes less than an hour to complete. It only features the basic care procedures for teenagers and seniors, ideally suited for occupational areas or home. Seniors are more vulnerable to various medical emergencies including stroke, suffocation, and cardiac arrests.
If you happen to live with your senior folks, learning CPR training would really come in handy should an emergency occur. Operating an automated external defibrillator (AED) is also helpful because it’s a machine designed to complement CPR procedures. You can have it included in the course though you’ll probably pay extra too.
Pediatric CPR Training and Certification
The most comprehensive class of CPR for young children under eight. It’s an ideal course specially designed for parents, babysitters, teachers or anyone who deals with children regularly. When it comes to administering pediatric CPR, the resuscitation techniques are relatively different than what you’d apply for adults. For children, the CPR procedure will often involve proper airway clearance and gentle chest compressions. Pediatric experts recommend 30 gentle compressions at a constant rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
Basic Life Support
Basic life support training is designed specially for healthcare providers and public safety workers. The course covers both the use of an AED, ventilation devices and the challenges facing effective CPR administrations. If you’re are looking to explore options in the medical field, this class for CPR training is a requirement.
Choosing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Classes
There are CPR courses are offered across many hospitals, community health centers, clinics and colleges, local schools, fire departments and popular non-profit organizations such as Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Even with the availability of CPR classes, nonetheless, the classes are likely to be different since there is no course standardization nor a single agency mandated to credited all qualified CPR instructors in most states.
In conclusion, while many institutions are offering CPR training, consult with your employer first before enrolling in a CPR class to know the recommended institutions. Some employers will not accept your certification if it doesn’t come from the National Safety Council, or the Red Cross or American Heart Association.