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.

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

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.