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The question of formal CPR certification is an issue that comes up fairly often when I speak with parents interested in learning these skills. I’d like to take a few minutes of your time and explain the certification issue, a bit about its history, and why certain misconceptions regarding formal certification still exist.
In the last several decades as CPR education has expanded into American communities more citizens than ever have learned these life-saving skills. Yet, questions remain about the need for formal certification or having a "CPR card."
As an instructor for the American Heart Association in both basic and advanced life-support I have observed the changes in CPR guidelines and methods that have, over the years, changed substantially. One significant change has been the addition of CPR courses that don’t result in the student getting a "CPR card" - yet they have met all of the standards and prepare individuals in the event of a life threatening event.
The course called "Friends & Family" CPR has been particularly helpful in that it teaches the basics of life-saving but is a shorter course, focused on the essence of skills acquisition, but without the mandatory video tapes and written exams.
Do these newer, less intense, courses actually work? YES...they certainly do! In fact, I have been using these teaching methods for nearly 10 years now with family members and care providers with excellent results. People actually leave class with that "I could actually do this" sense of accomplishment.
So, who actually needs a formal certification card in CPR? Usually the following groups are required to have it:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Licensed Physical Therapists
- Chiropractors
- Dentists...and other health professionals.
Others who will often require certification include:
- Teachers
- Lifeguards
- Camp counselors
- Other allied health workers
The "Save A Little Life" CPR course is really intended for everyone else (yet is often taken by those mentioned above) in the unlikely event someone they know actually requires life-saving skills.
I have had many health professionals and others with prior training tell me that my course has better prepared them for a life-threatening situation than their "regular course" has.
With the comprehensive changes in CPR guidelines (see my article on the Save A Little Life website on "Changes in CPR Guidelines") learning these skills is simpler than ever - and doesn’t require exhaustive programs with needless videos and exams.
In the end, we need to be ready. Being prepared to save a life does not require a background in health or any other special preparation. Remember, most individuals who are saved by these skills are saved by someone with little or no skills and certainly don’t need to show a "card" in order to respond.
For more information on the "Save A Little Life" course, feel free to email or call. Also, keep an eye open for the about-to-be-released DVD that will be coming out later this summer!
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