An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable emergency device used in resuscitation efforts. It is primarily used for saving the lives of those having a cardiac arrest. An AED is designed to deliver a shock strong enough to restart the heart of a person during a cardiac arrest. AED Certification can only be obtained through training courses from organizations such as American Red Cross and American heart Association. You can also take courses in school, malls, hospitals, and even online.
AED Certification Training, Courses & Preparation
As said before, you can take AED and CPR Training in organizations such as American Red Cross and American heart Association or even at schools and online.
Taking your AED Training will only take up about 5 hours of your time and your AED Certification lasts for up to six months (Resuscitation Council Guidelines). In order to receive AED Training, one must also have their First Aid or basic CPR Training completed. For those candidates with no previous training, AED courses can be cost-effectively combined with Basic Life Support, Appointed Person or First Aid at Work Training Courses.
With your AED Training expect to learn the followings:
- Revision & update of CPR & basic life support
- Understating cardiac arrest how the AED Reverses it
- Safety in AED use and first aid
- Choosing, storing, using & checking AED equipment
- Management of a cardiac arrest situation
- Management of a recovering casualty
There are no written assessments in your AED Training just some practical, hands on assessments and simulations using AED equipment. After your training and assessments, you’ll recieve your AED certification or both the CPR and AED Certification.
AED Certification Requirements & Eligibility
According to the American Red Cross, in order for you to receive AED training courses you must have first obtained the CPR Certification for both adults and children. The adult CPR class typically takes about 3.5 hours and the the child CPR class covers both young kids and infants and is normally going to last about 4.5 hours. Participants in the AED classes are taught what the AED is, how to use it, and most importantly, when to use it on adults and children.
The majority of training for the AED certification is done on site. There is the option, however, to take a home based training or even training through your work place without a facilitator. One such program is called ‘the Heart saver’ which can be ordered for an individual or group through the American Heart Association. This course is a self-directed program and is typically enough for training people to pass the certification. Keep in mind that this home training is not the same as being certified. You must pair it with the Heart Association’s training center skills evaluation.
You can also actually get your CPR and AED Certification online. There are some sites that offer online training but most of the time it is only used for renewal of your AED certification or both CPR and AED certification. The training is almost half of the original outdoor AED training which is 2-3 hours. Online courses usually include Skills session at training center and Evaluation Required for AED Certification.
In addition to the comfort of knowing you are prepared for an emergency situation, these certifications are often required for employment when working with children, the elderly or around pools or other potentially dangerous places.
There are no initial prerequisites for AED training. Maybe age and the capability of understanding instructions could be the only to stop an individual in taking their AED Certification. Nevertheless, anyone who is interested can enroll and start saving lives.
AED Certification Cost
How much? That’s mainly everybody’s question in any types of training or courses. The good news is that outdoor AED training will only cost $15.00 up to $20.00 for new students. This outdoor training program that the American Heart Association offers includes an instructional manual, an American Heart Association Certification Card and a complete Heart saver Adult/Child AED Course.
While for students who are only seeking the renewal of certificates it will only cost $10 to $15. This training includes an American Heart Association Certification Card and a complete Heartsaver Adult/Child AED course. These prices are from America Heart Association which tries to keep their prices as low as possible so anyone can afford to take these valuable classes.
After training you can finally receive your AED Certification.
And if you’re planning on re-certification online, there are some sites that offer programs, training video courses and more that can be bought online. To some, they believe it is less expensive. Some sites offer a $39.95.00 for AED and CPR Training customized for your AED. Some are far cheaper like the Heartsaver CPR and AED Online part 1 that costs for only $23.00. But remember, these offers are for renewal only.
Taking your CPR and AED Certification classes can help lower the rate of people dying in preventable situations every year after suffering from a cardiac arrest. The majority of adults who suffer from a cardiac arrest respond qute well to an AED device being used. But it is important that an automated external defibrillator is not used unless the victim has had a cardiac arrest. If you use it on someone who has not lost consciousness you could cause further health damage. In the old days defibrillators gave many patients third degree burns.
The safety and technology has improved so the risk of burns is no longer significant but that it not to say they are not dangerous when in the wrong hands. The AED device will give you both visual and audio instructions but you really need to understand how the process should work. Also you need to know how to do CPR as sometimes the machine will tell you that the victim needs CPR before you can use the AED effectively.