CPR has been developed as a means to keep blood flowing to the brain and the rest of the body, by performing chest compressions in the event that a person’s heart has stopped beating. Ongoing research in the most effective way to keep a heart attack victim alive until an emergency response team arrives has resulted in changes in these procedures over the years. Since research still continues and news guidelines are periodically presented, it is important that those who have been trained, receive CPR recertification on a regular basis; generally every two years.
At one time, students were taught to check for responsiveness and then try to find a pulse in the victim followed by two rescue breaths. If no pulse was present after this to then proceed with chest compressions combined with intervals of rescue breaths. Although this was and still is effective, it has been found that much valuable time is wasted before actual chest compressions are started. Once the heart has stopped beating, brain damage and death can occur very quickly. Getting the blood flowing as soon as possible greatly increases the chance of a heart attack victim’s survival.
According to new CPR guidelines, if a person’s heart has stopped, chest compressions should be started immediately. Two exceptions are in the case of infants and those whose heart has stopped as a result of drowning. CPR training teaches students how to deal with these exceptions and things to watch for before administering any type of first aid in the case of an emergency. One is when to call for help and to ensure that the environment that the victim is in is safe for the responder. Most communities offer some form of CPR training as well as CPR recertification and contacting agencies such as the Red Cross, St. John’s Ambulance, your local hospital and even your area’s board of education will help in finding a local CPR class.
There are many levels and categories of training each of which will require CPR recertification every couple of years to ensure that you are aware of any new guidelines that have been introduced. The CPR training course that is most suitable for you will depend on your occupation and whom you think you will most likely need to administer CPR to. Chest compressions performed on infants are very different than those used for children or adults. Employees who work with children are required to have child and infant CPR and first aid and those working in medical facilities will require a higher level of first aid and CPR. Some of these various categories include:
- Standard First Aid and CPR
- Emergency First Aid and CPR
- CPR/AED
- Emergency Child First Aid and CPR
All levels of training require CPR recertification and anyone who has been trained more than two years previous should contact an appropriate agency within their community for information about classes in their area. There are a variety of ways once can be recertified including online CPR recertification. If recertification is required by an employer, it is important to ensure that your recertification will be accepted before you enroll in any re-training class.