So what can you learn in CPR classes? We’ll break that down here. Attending CPR classes is obligatory for individuals who are part of the medical field and professionals such as firemen, lifeguards, flight attendants, teachers, and more. Those who are actively involved in providing healthcare have a general idea of what a CPR course might entail. Nonetheless, being informed on what exactly this course brings can be of great benefit.
Throughout the sections below, we will discuss why this course is important and take a look at the skills and knowledge participants can expect to get from a CPR course.
What Do You Learn in CPR Classes and Why Is It Important?
At its core, the CPR course intends to equip professionals with the necessary skills to help people in life-threatening situations. The moment when these skills will come to serve can never be exactly determined, as an emergency can occur at any time. But, being able to provide the necessary medical care is crucial in these situations, as the emergency service needs time to arrive.
Commonly, administering CPR is associated with assisting cardiac arrest victims. There are also a variety of other medical emergencies that require CPR, including smoke inhalation, suffocation, choking, near-drowning, and poisoning.
The importance of CPR skills, along with the ability to respond efficiently in emergency situations, cannot be emphasized strongly enough. There are countless benefits, but here are the most significant ones you can get from attending a CPR course:
- Provides participants with valuable lifesaving skills.
- Participants acquire both willingness and confidence to act in emergency situations.
- Contribute to a healthier and safer community.
Who Should Take CPR Classes To Learn The Procedure?
Some professionals are required to obtain CPR certifications as a prerequisite for their position. These include emergency responders, healthcare providers, and public safety professionals. However, the list doesn’t end here. Labor workers, teachers, daycare staff, security guards, and police officers also need to have basic life-saving skills, which include knowing CPR.
Nonetheless, the CPR practice is not limited only to individuals who must meet certain standards to attain a job. Anyone can apply for a CPR course and attain the needed competency for responding to medical emergencies; this also applies to children, as there are no age requirements in CPR training, and many organizations, such as the AHA (American Heart Association) or the organization Red Cross, offer courses to minors as well as adults.
The Knowledge You Can Gain From CPR Classes
Within a CPR training program, you will be introduced to various skills and techniques necessary to respond to any medical emergency, whether in the workplace or within the community.
Individuals that apply to a CPR course can expect their training to include various aspects. CPR/AED courses mainly focus on the role of the emergency care provider, and during the courses, participants are introduced to the signs they must watch out for in patients suffering from heart disease.
Learners are also presented with information on how to assess and approach an unresponsive person. Below we’ve detailed some knowledge you can attain from visiting CPR classes.
The Basics Of CPR
All training courses begin with basic techniques, such as the Heimlich maneuver. Participants get well acquainted with CRP skills such as rescue breathing, applying chest compressions, and knowledge of how to assess the situation they find themselves in.
When choosing a CPR certification course, you want to opt for the best training available, meaning you should look for a reputable institution with an established practice.
CPR training is available both in the form of online courses and in-person classes; you may also find that organizations such as the American Red Cross also offer blended First-Aid /CPR courses which give learners a chance to interact with instructors both in real life and from the comfort of their home.
Advanced CPR Skills
Aside from the basics, as the course progresses, learners gain in-depth knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. People undertaking this course attain insight into how CPR works and how to restore breathing and blood circulation.
Individuals are taken through the various stages of CPR and introduced to several different techniques, including:
- One-person CPR
- Administering CPR as part of a 2-rescue team
- Hands-only CPR
- CPR with rescue breaths
- Administering shock with AED
CPR Methods
When you think of CPR, the most common picture that comes to mind is the mouth-to-mouth resurrection. This is just one of the techniques that you can master in a CPR course. Participants are trained with a variety of different methods in mind, including hands-only CPR, one-person CPR, CPR with rescue breaths, and administering CPR in a team.
Chain of Survival
The chain of survival can be explained as a series of actions that one must implement in progression to minimize or diminish the fatal consequences of cardiac arrest. It represents the ability to promptly assess the situation and react accordingly.
CPR is part of this chain which is why it is of immense value that learners acquire it during training.
Laws and Safety Regulations
While CPR programs mostly seem to focus largely on how to assist those in need when in an emergency, they also contain plenty of information on universal precautions that those providing assistance may take to ensure their personal safety.
These courses also contain valuable input and details on safety measures such as protective barriers in emergencies. Participants also get acquainted with the Good Samaritan laws and regulations in addition to the Chain of Survival skills.
Teamwork skills are also emphasized, and learners are taught how to coordinate within a team to ensure effective delivery. This is emphasized because there may be cases where a victim needs both hands-on CPR and rescue breaths which can be conducted easily by two people.
Use of AED
Learning how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is another valuable skill that participants acquire during a CPR course. The AED is a medical device that analyzes the heart rhythm and administers shock only when needed. It is a valuable asset in cases of sudden cardiac arrest as it helps restore the heart rhythm to normal.
Adult and Pediatric CPR
Though most people are unaware of it, cardiac arrest can happen at any age. It is crucial for CPR participants to understand that the practice of applying CPR on children and adults differs.
The chest compressions you can administer on a baby differ from those you’d administer on an adult. Mastering both is essential, however, not all CPR courses include both adult and pediatric CPR, which is why when looking for a course, you must pay close attention to what it offers.
Adult and Pediatric Choking
Choking happens quite often, and due to the obstruction, which causes blockage in the airway ventilation, an individual can easily fall into cardiac arrest. The oxygenation process will not be sufficient for the body in these cases, so it is important to act immediately and prevent further complications or fatal consequences.
The Answer to What Do You Learn in CPR Classes
When choosing a CPR class to take an individual should always try and get as much information as possible on what the course entails. Depending on the type of the CPR classes, whether they are online, in-person, or blended, individuals can have an overall idea of what they are signing up for.
Although all CPR courses cover the basics and aim to prepare individuals to respond to different types of medical emergencies, participants also gain comprehensive knowledge of safety regulations and master several CPR techniques including operating medical devices such as AED.
Courses are available to all, regardless of professional background and age, as being able to provide bystander response is of key value in creating a safer and healthier community.