CPR Recertification – Did you know that the most significant predictor of survival for an individual who is under sudden cardiac arrest is whether or not cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is performed? Most people often think that the best course of action in this situation is waiting for the first responders to arrive to help. However, the truth is that effectual CPR administered by a bystander can double or triple survival rate. Unfortunately, a survey conducted by the American Heart Association found that nearly 70 percent of Americans do not act during a cardiac emergency because they do not know how to administer CPR.
Cardiac arrest is only one of the potentially life threatening medical emergencies where CPR can be an important predictor for survival. In 2009, 2,500 deaths were attributed to unintentional choking; 1,100 were children under the age of 14; with kids ages 3 and under at the highest risk. These alarming facts shed light on the importance for every citizen to continue to recertify their CPR credentials.
Every child care provider should have CPR certification
If you are a parent of a young child, then you should know CPR. If going to a class is difficult because of schedule restraints, online CPR certification classes teach not only immediate intercession for adults with cardiac arrest, but also how to perform CPR on a child or infant. Asking relatives to get their CPR certification is a good idea as well, especially if they watch your child while you are out or at work. Most caregivers including nannies are required to know CPR, so be sure to ask for proof of up-to-date certification. If it has expired, then there are online safety education sites such as Simple CPR that offer online CPR recertification and renewal options.
What is CPR?
CPR is a series of chest compressions administered manually in an effort to create artificial circulation by manually pumping blood through the heart. In addition, breaths are administered into the mouth or nose (both, at once, in the case of children) or a device can be used that pushes air into the patient’s lungs. The purpose of administering CPR is not to restart the heart as this is unlikely, its main purpose is to restore the partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart in order to delay tissue death. If CPR is not administered, then the chance for successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage is seriously diminished. (Wikipedia.org)
CPR Recertification : How to get certified?
The easiest and most popular way to learn CPR is enrolling in online CPR certification classes. The best companies are those which are accredited by the American Health Association, and will offer courses in adult – child- infant CPR, as well as classes for the professional healthcare provider. Typical course length, depending on the class, is 60-90 minutes, and the certification is good for two years. As most people may not have the need to use CPR between that time it is important to stay up-to-date with a CPR recertification class.
Hopefully most of us will never have the need to use CPR, but knowing how to perform CPR effectively, by keeping your certification renewed, is probably one of the most important public health interventions one can do.
About the Author: Steve Huffman, a retired firefighter/paramedic of 30 years, is now the managing founder of Professional Training Institute, a company that specializes in online CPR classes and medical training. When he isn’t in the office, he can be found somewhere outdoors, whether it be hiking in the mountains, skiing down powdery slopes, or wine tasting on the open countryside.
