CPR Training

CPR Training should be compulsory if only to protect you and your family. With the rise in heart disease in the USA, more people could face sudden cardiac arrest than ever before. There is only a very small period of time after a cardiac arrest where there is a chance to keep that person alive. The American Heart Association recently changed the CPR guidelines (changed October 2010) and recommended that lay bystanders i.e. not those employed by the emergency services should do chest compression only CPR. The rationale behind the change was to hopefully encourage more bystanders to get involved. Chest compression only CPR is almost as effective as the old ABC format for cardiopulmonary resuscitation overall and is actually more effective in those that have yet to be trained

Is chest compression only CPR always the recommended option?  No is the answer to that question. In most cases a sudden cardiac arrest is caused by ventricular defibrillation and in this instance chest only compressions are effective.  They should be sufficient to keep the heart muscle responsive until an automatic defibrillator device can be used. 

In some cases a sudden cardiac arrest is caused by respiratory problems such as that which occurs when drowning.  In this instance the ABC approach to CPR is more effective as the victim needs the oxygen supplied by the rescue breaths. 

But as time is of the essence you shouldn’t wait to decide which method of resuscitation to use. If there is no pulse and the patient is unresponsive and there is no obvious sign of drowning i.e. he or she wasn't just pulled from the water, your best bet is to start chest compressions ASAP.  Even if you have yet to do any formal cpr training, so long as you push deep enough and hard enough and for long enough you should make a difference.  Some patients will die - that happens even when the emergency services arrive on the scene in time or the patient has a cardiac arrest at hospital.  There is nothing that can be done about this. Sudden cardiac arrest is often fatal but some people can survive if CPR is applied and we don’t know how many lives could be saved if more people attended CPR training classes.

How Long Does It Take To Do CPR Training?

It depends on your background and also whether you are being professionally trained i.e. you are a member of the emergency services or work in a medical field or whether you are a lay person. Most people will learn and pass their CPR certification within four to six hours. It depends on the type of class, the numbers present and how good your instructor is. Some will take less time while others may need more time. It doesn't matter how long it takes, it is more important that you get trained.

How long does CPR Training last?

What most people mean by this question is how long does the CPR certification last.  The answer to that question depend on the organization that certified you.  If it was the American Red Cross the certification lasts for one year but with the American Heart Association, it lasts for two.

Can Your Employer Force You To Complete CPR Training?

While I am not a lawyer the answer to that question is more than likely yes they can. They may pay for your training and as it is a valuable skill to have, why not go.  It is probably a condition of your contract although if you really don't want to attend CPR training you could always check whether your employer can impose this condition by contacting an employment attorney. It might be easier to attend the CPR class.

Are Teachers Required To Take CPR Training

You will find that most teachers and any other professionals working with children are required to take CPR training. It is useful to note that chest compression or hands only cpr doesn't really work on children and infants as well as it could potentially work on adults. This may be due to the fact that kids usually go into cardiac arrest as a result of a breathing problem. It is more unusual for a child to suffer from ventricular defibrillation although of course some do. It is important therefore that teachers are taught to use the traditional form of CPR i.e. rescue breaths being of great importance if lack of oxygen has caused the arrest.