Are you ready to save a life? If you encounter a life threatening emergency, can you handle it? Unfortunately, the answer for most people would be no. Why is that? The answer is simple. Not all have the certification, knowledge and experience to respond in an emergency. That is why it is important to get First Aid Certification.
CPR and First Aid Certification
First Aid is the immediate and temporary treatment for a victim of a sudden illness or injury while waiting for a more professional and proper medical aid. Proper and early treatments can be one of the basic ways to ensure a better and rapid recovery. A lot of sudden emergencies such as drowning, poisoning and child birth can be aided by First Aid. Most houses have First Aid kits for safety reasons.
But what is a First Aid Certification? Because First Aid is considered as an initial response to care it is outmost importance to receive training and First Aid Certification. In most cases, First Aid Certification and training goes together with CPR Certification. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or more popularly known as CPR is as important as First Aid.
Why is it important to have a First Aid Certification?
Not all people know how important it is to have a First Aid Certification. It pays to be ready and prepared. There are several first aid and CPR certifications available for people who are required to have credentials for their jobs or for those who want to arm themselves with the skills to save a life.
First aid certification is essential in many cases as medical emergencies and accidents can happen any moment. And in most of the cases the first requirement is first aid. Accidents where first aid is really necessary include head injuries, puncture wounds, fractures, nosebleeds, scrapes, electric shock, choking, burns, cuts, bruises, bite wounds etc. Each situation demands for basic first aid help, thus, first aid training needs more time than a CPR certification course. Different accidents require different first aid. For example, the first aid for a head injury will be different from a leg fracture.
First Aid Certification Training, Courses & Preparation
People might think that First Aid Certifications and training are required only for medical emergency professionals. Now most businesses and companies around the world require their employees to receive and have First Aid Certification or both CPR and First Aid Certification. They sometimes also include AED Certification. AED, Automated External Defibrillator, is a portable emergency device is an additional tool that aids in saving lives. It is used mainly on saving the lives of those having a cardiac arrest. An AED can deliver a shock strong enough to restart the heart of a person having a cardiac arrest.
Courses in CPR and First Aid Certification are offered to all ages; however, it is recommended that you don’t attempt to seek certification if you are physically unable to assist injured persons in the event of a medical emergency.
All students in the First aid and CPR plus AED classes must pass a Red Cross standardized test before they are awarded a certification. In addition to classes for professional rescuers, the Red Cross tailors classes to those who may be required to help in community, workplace or wilderness emergencies.
First aid certification classes are commonly offered at community centers, schools and workplaces, through the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Students taking a first aid certification course often learn to assess emergency situations, administer wound and burn care, provide aid as first responders and perform CPR.
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Interested people should expect the following in their First Aid Training:
- First Aid Training requires at least 3-4 hours of you day and can exceed up to 14 hours for completion.
- Training focuses more on injury prevention
- Upon assessment expect and be ready with a written and skills examination.
The program coursework includes the following:
- Safety procedures for first aid administration
- Assessing emergency situations/li>
- Adult, child and infant CPR/li>
- Automatic external defibrillator (AED) training/li>
- Oxygen administration/li>
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Red Cross and American Heart Association have different courses. The following are the course procedures from the American heart Association:
- The training could last from 1.5 hours and up to 7.5 hours
- Identifying shock
- Checking for breathing obstructions
- Applying pressure to wounds
- Burn treatment
- Splint creations
First Aid Certification from both of these associations lasts up to two years. Retaking the test is the only way to renew the certification and ensuring that your first aid skills are still up to par.
But if you don’t have that much time you can still get your CPR and First Aid Certification online.
The main advantage of the online CPR and First Aid certification is that classes are completely online and can be performed in the comfort of your home and at your convenience. When you are at home at the end of the day, you simply connect to your system and go through the study materials. You can join the course at any time and can receive certification in CPR and first aid after training which is nationally accepted.
First Aid Certification Cost
For something that can save life a little money isn’t that hard to let go. An outdoor and onsite First Aid Training can cost $15.00 and up to $40.00 but can also cost $150.00 and up to $300.00 with CPR Training (St. Johns Ambulance).
While online training can be less expensive. Basic First Aid Certification and Training can cost for $20.00 and up to $30.00.
First Aid Certification Requirements & Eligibility
Now, who are eligible and required to have their First Aid Certification or both CPR and First Aid certifications.
Anyone can train for First Aid. Just make sure that you are capable of saving a life. Meaning your normal as normal can be. Like you have complete limbs, you don’t have any psychological deficiency or problems.
As mentioned before, medical offices are required to have their First Aid Certification or both CPR and First Aid certifications while some companies or business may only require at least First Aid Certification to its employees. Nevertheless, anyone can do it.
It is better to be prepared when emergencies are just around the corner. The safest way to be safe is prevent danger from occurring. First Aid Certifications are a requirement now for a safe living.