Why CPR Training is Mandatory for Everyone

What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, is a technique used to help a person whose heart has stopped pumping oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. Certifying yourself in CPR is important because it gives you the opportunity to learn a set of skills that could potentially save the life of a family member, a friend, or even a perfect stranger. 

Why Take a CPR Class?

Knowing how to correctly perform CPR is an invaluable skill to have, however, it is important that you learn the correct way to perform it in a “formal” setting, such as online training programs or in a classroom setting, where you can learn exactly what to do, how to do it and the specific order in which things need to be done. 

By taking a certification class, you will have access to the course material which includes videos, audio files and helpful graphics.  The final step in the process is to take a certification exam.  Once you have your CPR certification card, you will feel confident that you have the skills and know-how needed to successfully rescue someone in an emergency situation.

CPR Training for Your Family and Friends

When you think about your loved ones, you probably don’t like to think about something bad happening to them, but it is critical to understand why learning CPR is so crucial.  Let’s look at some statistics: 80% of life-threatening injuries happen in the home or away from a hospital. Less than 8% of people who experience a life-threatening injury or trauma will make it to the hospital alive. 

When it comes to injuries such as heart attack, stroke, electrical shock or choking, time is of the essence and you only have minutes to save your loved one’s life. Professional help can take up to 15 minutes to arrive, by which time your loved one could have already suffered brain damage or even death. It is vitally important to know what to do if your child, grandchild or elderly parent needs help. By certifying in CPR, you will know what to do in those precious moments after an injury that can help you save the life of your loved one. 

CPR Training for Your Job

Some jobs require that you be certified in CPR and First Aid, especially jobs that involve public safety such as emergency medical service providers, lifeguards and anyone that works in a hospital setting. Additionally, restaurant employees, airline and transportation staff and anyone that works with children, such as in a school or daycare setting is generally mandated to have a CPR certification card. If your job doesn’t require you to be certified in CPR, taking the initiative to get certified will not only give you a set of skills that could save someone’s life, but it will also show your employer or prospective employees that you take have taken the initiative to arm yourself with a valuable set of skills.