Jobs That Require CPR and First Aid Certification

Healthcare providers aren`t the only careers that require CPR and first aid training. The below infographic shows 24 jobs that require CPR and First Aid Certification:

Read more about the careers that require CPR and First Aid training skills.

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First Aid Study Guide

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Study Guide

What To Do If Someone Is Choking on Water?

For mild choking on water, encourage the victim to cough. If the airway is only partly blocked, he will usually be able to speak, cry, cough, or breathe. In addition, they’ll usually clear the blockage themselves. If they cannot give a cough or seem unable to breathe, call 911 or the emergency medical services team immediately. A healthcare professional may need to suction the airway to help them breathe again.

Avoid putting your fingers in the choking victim’s mouth to help them as they may bite you accidentally. Start five quick, forceful blows (back blows) if coughing doesn’t work.

How To Do Back Blows?

To perform a back blow on an adult or child over one year old who is choking, follow these steps:

1. Stand behind the choking victim and slightly to one side.

2. Support their chest with one hand. Then lean them forward so the blockage in the airway will come out of their mouth rather than moving further down.

2. Give up to 5 sharp blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. 

3. Check if the blockage has cleared. If not yet cleared, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts.

Severe Choking on Water:

For severe choking, the person won’t be able to speak, cry, cough, or breathe. Without proper medical assistance, they’ll eventually become unconscious. So before they become unconscious, it’s essential to give back blows and chest thrusts to the choking victim.

Abdominal or chest thrusts are the best technique for someone who is not a pregnant woman or an infant since there may be a higher risk of injury in these groups. Here’s a simple step on how to carry out an abdominal thrust:

1. Stand behind the victim who’s choking.

2. Put your arms around the victim’s waist and bend them forward.

3. Clench your one fist and place it right above the belly button.

4. Put your other hand on top and pull sharply inwards and upward thrusts.

5. Repeat the quick thrusts up to 5 times.

If the choking victim’s airway is still blocked after trying back blows and abdominal thrusts, call 911 and tell the operators the situation of the choking person. Then continue with the cycles of 5 back blows and five abdominal thrusts until help arrives.

If the choking victim loses consciousness and isn’t breathing, you should begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with chest compressions and rescue breathing. Use your body weight to deliver 30 chest compressions, two inches deep, at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.

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Different Types Of Burns And Their Treatment

 

The different types of Burns and their Treatment:

First-degree burn:

First-degree or superficial burns are mild burns that affect the outer layer of skin, called the epidermis. The affected skin is red, painful, dry, and with no blisters. Long-term tissue damage is rare in this type of burn and often consists of increasing or decreasing skin color.

What are the signs of a first-degree burn?:

• redness
• minor inflammation or swelling
• Pain that usually lasts 48 to 72 hours and then subsides
• peeling and dry skin occurs as the burn heals

First Aid Treatment for First Degree Burns:

Since first-degree burns are mild, these are usually treated with first aid at home. The healing time may be quicker the sooner you treat the burn. Here are some first aid treatments for first-degree burns:

• Soak the affected burn wound in cool water for more than 5 minutes
• Take over the counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• To soothe the skin, apply an anesthetic with aloe vera gel or cream.
• Use antibiotic ointment and loose gauze to protect the affected wound.

Do not use ice when treating first-degree burns at home because it may worsen the damage. Also, do not apply cotton balls to the infected area because the tiny fibers can stick to the wound area and may increase the risk of infection.

Second-degree burn:

Second-degree burns are more severe than superficial burns because they affect the epidermis and the lower layer of skin, called the dermis. This type of burn can cause a blister on the skin and become extremely sore.

What are the symptoms of a second-degree burn?

• Blisters.
• Deep redness.
• The burned area may appear wet and shiny.
• Skin that is painful to the touch.
• The burn may be white or discolored in an irregular pattern.

Some blisters may pop open, giving the wound a wet appearance. Over time, the thick, scab-like tissue called fibrinous exudate may develop over the infected area. Due to the delicate nature of these burns, it’s essential to keep the site clean, and putting a clean bandage properly is required to prevent infection. This also helps the burn heal faster.

First Aid Treatment for Second Degree Burns:

Like superficial burns, avoid cotton balls and questionable home remedies to prevent infections. Treatments for a second-degree burn generally include the following:

• Run the skin under cold water for more than 15 minutes.
• Take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• Apply antibiotic cream to blisters

Second-degree burns might take longer than three weeks to heal, but most of them heal within three weeks without scarring, but often with pigment. However, if you see signs of infection or the burn affects a widespread area, like the face, hands, buttocks, groin, or feet, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. A licensed medical professional or health care provider might recommend a tetanus shot after a burn injury.

Third Degree Burns:

Aside from the fourth-degree burn, third-degree burn or full thickness burn is the most severe type of burn. It affects all the layers of skin (epidermis, dermis, and fat). The burn also destroys hair follicles and sweat glands. Burned skin may be black, white, or red with a leathery appearance. The damage in 3rd-degree burns is so extensive that there may be no severe pain because of nerve damage.

What are the Symptoms of Third Degree Burns?

Depending on the cause, the symptoms of third-degree burns vary. The most common symptoms of third-degree burns can include:

• Waxy and white color
• Raised and leathery texture
• Blisters that do not develop
• Swelling.
• Lack of pain

Without surgery, this major burn heals with severe scarring. There is no definite timeline for complete healing for third-degree burns. When bones, muscles, or tendons are also burned, this may be referred to as a fourth-degree burn.

Treatment for Third Degree Burns:

Never attempt to self-treat a third-degree burn. Call 911 immediately. There are some things you can do while waiting for medical professionals to get there:

• Get the burn patient away from the cause of the burn.
• Check if the victim is breathing. If not, start CPR (a combination of rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions.
• Take off anything that might keep the victim from moving quickly.
• Cover the burned area with a clean cloth or a slightly wet bandage.
• If possible, keep the burned area raised above heart level.
• Observe the patient for signs of shock. If you notice any shock symptoms, try raising their feet and legs slightly but don’t move them.

Compared with first- and second-degree burns, which are minor burns, third-degree burns carry the most risk for complications, such as shock (Here are 5 different types of shock and their symptoms), infections, blood loss, and often leading to death. In addition, it requires special medical care and may need skin grafts, a surgical procedure in which sections of the healthy skin are used to replace the scar tissues caused by deep burns. At the same time, all burns have the risk of infections because bacteria can enter broken skin.

Read more about basic First Aid Training for treating injury at home.

Free CPR/AED and First Aid Practice Test

CPR Select provides free CPR/AED and First Aid practice test to help you prepare for our official CPR, AED, First Aid and BLS online exam. The practice exam consists of multiple-choice questions that are derived from the CPR, AED & First Aid provider handbook and adhere to the latest ILCOR and ECC guidelines. Test your CPR and First Aid knowledge!

10 Common CPR and First Aid Certification Questions

Here are most common CPR and First aid Certification questions, that people ask while looking for the healthcare training classes.

Read more about CPR/AED and First Aid Certification FAQs.

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5 Benefits of Basic Life Support (BLS) Training

Here are the 5 Benefits of Basic Life Support (BLS) Training:

• Provides the rescuer with confidence to save lives

One of the reasons why in most cases, when accidents and health emergencies occur, bystanders don’t know how to respond. For this reason, most victims lose lives. This lack of knowledge and information also creates fear for bystanders. In some instances, people involved in accidents and other health don’t receive any help from bystanders as they fear touching the wound result in further harm or cause pain. 

It is normal to experience such feelings more so due to a lack of skills and experience. Basic life support provides the individual with skills and hands-on experience, providing sufficient knowledge and life-saving skills. The basic life support knowledge and skills are pretty rewarding. It increases the individual’s wealth of expertise in health. As a result, the individual leads a healthier life which extends to those around. Additionally, this knowledge improves individuals’ social skills as they have more to share with their friends and family. 

BLS classes also provide learners with essential skills for recognizing victims in health emergencies early enough to save them. Cardiac arrest does not leave the rescuer much time to save the victim’s life. The earlier the victim receives CPR and AED, the higher the chances of survival. The course offers skills and knowledge of cardiac arrest and choking signs and symptoms, essential in providing the appropriate help.

• It offers skills on the performance of CPR

Basic life support training provides the learner with skills on the performance of CPR, which is a critical life-saving technique both in and out of hospitals. Cardiac arrest is fatal, and if CPR is not offered within the shortest time possible, the victim will die. This is because the victim is not breathing, and the heart is not pumping blood. The result is a continued shortage of oxygen within the body. Oxygen is critical for the functioning of body organs. The brain demands a constant supply of oxygen. When disrupted, the result could be vital as the victim might suffer from permanent brain damage or death.

When performed, CPR ensures a constant supply of blood circulation. This is through pressure applied on the heart, which provides an artificial heartbeat. These compressions give the necessary pressure on the heart, facilitating blood flow to the rest of the body. Studies have shown that the blood contained in the human body has enough oxygen to sustain life for some minutes. Consequently, when given chest compressions only, even without mouth-to-mouth ventilation, the victim can stay alive for some time before professional help arrives. 

Everyone should take up this critical training as cases of cardiac arrest are on the rise. Studies show that over 350,000 people suffer from cardiac arrest every day in the united states. Unfortunately, some of these people have no previous heart problems. Since cardiac arrest can affect perfectly healthy people, it might strike without warning. The survival of cardiac arrest victims depends on the availability of a knowledgeable CPR person when it occurs. It could be a friend, a family member. A colleague of a complete strange on the street. 

People who suffer the condition at home rely on the availability of a CPR-certified family member. Life is precious, more so if it is a loved one. And when a loved one experiences a life-threatening life emergency, we will do all we can to save their lives. However much you might want to be of help, it would be useless without CPR skills.

Another critical part of this course is relieving airway obstruction or choking. Choking is very common, more so in children. It can be complete or partial airway obstruction. Choking can be fatal, especially when the victim experiences complete airway obstruction. There are various ways to relieve choking victims, which are covered under BLS certification and CPR certification. CPR skills are also critical when the rescuer is unable to get the object out of the airway.

• Provides AED skills 

While most people are aware of the performance of chest compressions when giving CPR, only a few of this population can use the AED. Skills on the use of this life-saving device are acquired in Basic Life Support Training. The AED (Automated Defibrillator) is essential in the revival of the heart of a cardiac arrest victim. It does so by delivering an electric shock to the heart muscles, which restore its electrical functions. 

In cardiac arrest, the heart’s electrical functions fail, and the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body. The heart becomes irregular, and the medical term to define this is arrhythmia. The AED can reverse the irregular heartbeat, also called arrhythmia. Every minute that passes when a victim is in this state reduces the chances of survival by up to ten percent. 

In most cases, an arrhythmia occurs from ventricular fibrillation (VF). This condition is usually an unsynchronized rapid heart rhythm originating from the heart ventricles. In this state, the heart requires defibrillation using the AED to restore the regular heart rate. The availability of the AED makes it possible for cardiac arrest victims to receive the help they need. However, it is not enough to have AED as it needs to be operated by a professional. The use of the device is not hard to follow as it is usually self-guided with audio-visual prompts. 

First, the AED examines the victim’s heart to establish if it is in a shockable rhythm. Once done, it provides instructions on whether a shock is necessary depending on the victim’s condition. Modern AED devices have prompts that guide the user on how to deliver the shock. Anyone can learn how to use the AED as it is easy to operate. The device is also available in most public facilities and is usually free whenever needed. Without the AED, it would be impossible to treat cardiac arrest victims. 

• It opens up more opportunities for the individual

Basic life support certification is an essential requirement for some jobs, such as emergency responders. For this reason, anyone interested in taking up such a job would have to take up the certification. Employers are always happy to have their staff trained on different first aid certifications. This is because they can handle any health emergencies that arise at the workplace. Anyone looking for a job can provide basic life certification at the interview to attract some advantage over other candidates. It is, therefore, always an advantage to hold a basic life support certification.

Medical professionals also need these skills, which they need to apply in their daily lives at work. For these professionals, prompt renewal of their certification is always an advantage. Failure to put any skill into practice can cause deterioration. It is always best for medical professionals to be prepared for all kinds of emergencies. The renewal of Basic life support certification is, therefore, critical for healthcare professionals.

• Promotes a sense of safety

Basic life support skills and knowledge give the individual and those around a sense of safety. Whether at home or place of work, health emergencies occur when we least expect them. Some people live in fear of such instances. However, suppose you are trained on basic life support. In that case, you are already a step ahead when it comes to preparing for emergencies. The course teaches you the causes of different life-threatening emergencies to helping the rescuer lead a healthy lifestyle. As you live healthily, you also inspire others to adopt the same healthy habits. 

When emergencies occur, there is less panicking whenever a BLS professional is around. Panicking is usually a sign of hopelessness in the victim and those around as they want to help, but they wouldn’t know how to do it. Despite the high number of cardiac arrest cases, not everyone receives help, more so from bystanders. A significant percentage of cardiac arrest victims die before help arrives at the scene due to a lack of CPR-skilled professionals within the proximity to offer assistance. 

Enroll Now for Online Basic Life Support Training and Certification Classes at just $44.99.

Tips to Perform CPR and Rescue Breathing

The CPR procedure, on a person who is not breathing, can help keep them alive until the emergency services arrive. Know the basic CPR and Rescue breathing steps.

Learn more about CPR training and certification classes.

What is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)?

 

What Does CPR Mean?

CPR is short for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. It is a technique used to save a person’s life that has a sudden cardiac arrest. During this procedure, a person initiates a series of steps in order to help the victim’s blood continuously circulating and maintaining oxygen levels in the body. The steps include breathing (“rescue breaths”) into the victim’s lungs and compressing the victim’s chest. Let’s break this down even further to better understand CPR.

Cardio

The word “cardio” basically means the heart. Our heart is one of the most important organs in our bodies. The heart is a very strong muscle, found in the chest, which expands and contracts more than 60 times every minute and pumps blood, which is rich in oxygen, from the lungs to the rest of the organs in the body. If the heart stops pumping that all-important oxygenated blood to the rest of the body, tissue begins to die because the body’s vital organs are being deprived of the oxygen it needs to survive. This can lead to organ malfunction, brain damage or, in the worst case, death.

Pulmonary

The word “pulmonary” essentially means the lungs. The lungs are as important as the heart because when you take a breath (which you do up to 25 times a minute!), you fill your lungs with much needed oxygen and that oxygen combines with sugar to fuel your body and its vital organs. Since the tissues in our body do not store much oxygen, it is essential that they remain constantly oxygenated.

Resuscitation

The “R” in CPR is the most important letter and it means “resuscitation.” It basically means bringing someone who is apparently “dead,” back to life. It sounds more like a sci-fi movie than it really is. The human body only has a short supply of oxygen once the heart stops and the lungs are no longer receiving adequate oxygen. Once it runs out of oxygen, cell and tissue damage ensue, which can lead to brain damage and even death. When resuscitating a victim, it is important to remember that without oxygen, cell and tissue death begins between four and six minutes after being deprived of oxygen.

Importance of CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be lifesaving. It helps keep the blood circulating and delivers oxygen to the body until treatment from a medical professional is available. There is usually sufficient oxygen in the blood to keep the victim’s brain and other vital organs alive, supported for a few minutes. Still, it is not circulating until someone accomplishes CPR. Keeping the blood flow active allows for successful resuscitation once trained medical staff arrives on site.

Although there is no guarantee that a cardiac arrest victim will survive CPR, it provides the victim with a chance. According to the American Heart Association, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. Without performing CPR, it will only take a few minutes for the victim’s brain to become injured due to a lack of oxygen.

Enroll Now for Online CPR/AED Training & Certification Classes at just $19.95.

Read the complete article here.

Types of First Aid

When health emergencies occur, the responder needs to act first to figure out the type of emergency and figure out the appropriate solution. There are different first aid procedures, which vary depending on the type of emergency and the age of the victim.

• Different types of wounds: Wounds result from injuries that cause the skin to open or tear up. The first aid for wounds depends on the cause of the injury and severity. These injuries can result from injuries by fire, hot objects, and fluids. Wounds could also occur from falls, cuts by sharp objects, and piercings. When providing first aid for damages, you need to assess the cause. Always keep in mind that injuries can quickly get infected and need to be handled with care.
• Fractures and sprains: Fractures are cases of broken bones, while sprains occur from the injury of ligaments and tendons located within joints. Fractures are more severe and require should be treated as health emergencies. On the other hand, Sprains often heal on their own following a simple first-aid procedure and require less medical attention. Fractures are very painful and will at times require medical diagnosis through an X-ray to establish. You, therefore, need to pay special attention to such an injury to avoid further damage.
• Animal and insect bites: an animal bite needs to be treated by trained medical personnel. Some animal bite injuries could be fatal depending on the type of animal and its health status.
  Insect bites can also lead to poisoning as well as an allergic reaction. The first aid procedures vary depending on the type of insect or animal.
• Heat-related illnesses: these are injuries that occur from extreme temperatures. It could be extreme heat, heat exhaustion, or extreme cold (hypothermia and frostbites). Also, there are different first aid procedures for either.
• CPR: CPR is a critical life-saving technique that applies to victims of cardiac arrest and choking. The procedure involves chest compressions and the use of the AED. The method for performing CPR is covered intensively in CPR certification and AED classes.

In CPR, the rescuer uses chest compressions to maintain blood circulation by providing an artificial heartbeat to the victim. The AED device is used to restore regular heart activity. Both of these procedures are critical in cardiac arrest cases. The faster they are performed, the better the chances of survival of the victim.

In most training institutions, both CPR and AED are covered under the same certification program. Just like first aid certification, CPR and AED certification is also available online and is open to all.

When choosing first aid and CPR classes, it is best to for a recognized training institution. There are many CPR and first aid training institutions available online, all promising to be accredited. However, you need to research these institutions’ credibility and choose one with excellent ratings and is AHA accredited.

Read the complete article here.

Enroll Now for Online CPR/AED Training and Certification Classes at just $19.99.

Benefits of Online CPR Training Classes During Covid 19 Crises

Here are some of the reasons why online CPR training has become successful during the Covid-19 pandemic:

      I.  CPR training is highly needed during this time

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the surface the fact that life is very fragile. One moment someone is totally okay and the next minute they are fighting for their life. The case is even worse in a household with someone with underlying medical conditions. In an instance when someone stops breathing abruptly, offering timely help means a lot in saving a life.

You might have missed a chance to take CPR training before the pandemic. But during this time, you have realized how essential the training is. The fact that you have an option to get CPR certification online makes things easy. You will totally agree with us that the Covid-19 pandemic has made it even more important for one to acquire CPR skills.

Here is why, for starters the Covid-19 virus can contribute to cardiac arrest cases. Some of the complications that come with the infection are respiratory failure, cardiac failure, pneumonia, and other organ failures. These symptoms appear suddenly and getting an ambulance may not be as fast enough as the right CPR skills would be in saving a life.

The other reason is that we have witnessed situations where many people avoid hospitals when they are corona virus negative. This simply means that people don’t go to hospital when they have symptoms of an impending heart attack. Therefore an attack can possibly happen when outside the hospital and that’s where CPR training comes in handy.

The fact that CPR training has become highly essential during this time has contributed to the overall success of online CPR certification. 

    II. Online CPR certification is very safe

Online training is the safest way to acquire CPR certification. Taking an in-person class means that you will have to interact with fellow students while taking the class. In as much as you will be having your masks on and keeping a considerable distance, you may still be worried about the risks of infection. These concerns are even more heightened when you have vulnerable relatives back home.

The option of acquiring online CPR/AED certification makes things easy and safe for everyone during the pandemic. All you need to have is a reliable internet connection, a laptop, computer, iPad or even a smartphone! The issue of safety has contributed highly to the success of online healthcare training.

  III. Online CPR training offers access to convenient and high quality learning

Numerous concerns have been raised on the effectiveness of online learning, Traditionally, we are accustomed to learning with an in-person instructor in a mortar and brick classroom. The Covid-19 pandemic has helped us realize how effective online learning can be. Here are some of the reasons why acquiring online CPR certification is not only convenient buy also efficient:

Ø  Online CPR courses are tailor-made to suit each student. They allow you to acquire the knowledge and skills that you really need.

Ø  Online CPR training allows you to learn at your preferred pace. You’ll have a chance to take the classes based on a schedule that is convenient to you and complete the course at your own speed.

Ø  Online CPR training gives you the option of constant access to the learning materials. You have a chance to read, watch and test yourself as many times as possible until you are satisfied that you have fully mastered the content.

Ø  Online CPR certification also offers you access to approved courses. For example, you can find online courses that are OSHA compliant. You can also get courses that comply with industry-leading ILCOR standards and are A+ rated.

The convenience and efficiency of online CPR training has had a huge impact on its success in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

  IV. Online CPR training has put into consideration Covid-19 safety procedures

In as much as you may be trying to save a life, your personal safety while at it is also important. As you perform CPR, you also want to minimize the risks of contracting the virus. Online CPR training has included specific additional courses to improve the overall safety from corona virus for the individual performing CPR. Learners are taught the additional steps they need to take to protect themselves during this time.

Some of the precautions that are highlighted include:

Ø  Wearing personal protective equipment like masks and gloves while performing CPR.

Ø  Performing hands-only CPR.

Ø  Getting a CPR pocket mask that minimizes the number of contagious respiratory materials that get to you.

Read the full article here.

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