Let me be blunt about this. You are not competent enough to administer a CPR unless you have practiced it on a mannequin in a live class with an instructor monitoring your actions. Despite of this, the online agencies offer nothing more than some reading material on CPR and a test for awarding a certification. As a matter of fact, most agencies do not even conduct the test and when they do, it is only a formality and has no bearing on your being awarded a certification. There is absolutely no learning involved in the online CPR certifications that would help you in a real-life situation.
There is no dedicated government body to oversee the operations and certifications awarded by the various CPR training agencies. All the agencies, whether online or traditional, have their own approaches. They have their own course material and practice guidelines. Although American Heart Association releases updated CPR guidelines, it is up to the agencies whether to adapt the latest guidelines or continue with the older procedure. American Heart Association and American Red Cross are two of the most trusted agencies which offer reliable online certification programs. Granted, these organizations have online training programs, but they too mandate in-person skills assessment to award the certification.
If you are looking to get an easy certification to fulfill a job requirement, be wary of the online certifications. The acceptance of a certification from a particular agency is solely at the discretion of the employer. If the employer feels the online agency is not qualified or credible enough to grant a certification, then the certification has no weight to it. This is especially true in case of obscure online agencies with no practical training involved.
About 330,000 cardiac arrests happen every year in U.S. alone. A majority of them are at home. That is to say that, an overwhelming majority of people suffer cardiac arrests at home in the presence of other people. The people present at the location during such an emergency, could be the only hope of survival for the victim. A good CPR can considerably improve the chances of the patient’s survival. If the person giving CPR is not well versed with the technique and only knows theoretical concepts from the course material provided by an online certification agency, the victim`s chances of survival are greatly reduced. A badly administered CPR may leave the patient with broken ribs, lung contusion, heart contusion or other injuries.
Whether you wish to learn a lifesaving skill or get the certification to land a job, it is paramount that you enroll for a traditional classroom CPR training class.
]]>1. Am I allowed to do a CPR if I have do not have a certification or never attended any CPR class?
Yes. CPR certification or class training is not mandatory for you to spring to action and extend your valuable help to save a fellow human being`s life. However, some country laws require you to ask for victim`s permission before you perform a CPR on them. CPR classes make you aware of such legal obligations to be mindful of, in the event of such emergencies.
2. Am I obligated to perform a CPR on a victim in emergency, if I am CPR certified?
Except in the state of Vermont, there is no legal obligation in the U.S. for a fellow-citizen to administer a CPR on an emergency victim. The state of Vermont has the Good Samaritan Law (Duty to Aid the Endangered Act), which puts an obligation to a fellow-citizen present in an emergency to extend all the reasonable help that could be provided to the victim. This includes a CPR as well. However, the case is different for professional rescuers such as a firefighters, EMS’s, lifeguards and so on, for whom it is a duty to perform CPR on the victim, if required.
3. Is it better to join a traditional classroom CPR class or an online CPR class?
There is no better way to learn the lifesaving skills than practicing them live on a mannequin. The experience of practicing while being continuously monitored and advised by an instructor is the best method to learn the procedure. Online classes neither offer the depth of knowledge nor the experience that is characteristic of traditional CPR classes.
4. How often do I need to take CPR classes to remain competent in administering a CPR?
With advances in medical science, our understanding of CPR and its effects improve continuously. The CPR guidelines are updated regularly to reflect these changes. In order to keep yourself updated to the latest guidelines and to have enough practice on a regular basis, it is generally recommended to retake the certification every 12 months or less.
5. Are online CPR certifications valid?
Since there is no national level regulatory body to monitor the activities of various CPR training agencies, a number of online CPR certification agencies have cropped up. Their standards for awarding a certification are very low and therefore, it is entirely up to the employer to consider or reject the certification from an online agency.
6. Are the CPR classes different for amateurs and professionals?
Yes. A professional agency such as the American Heart Association has customized training programs for amateurs learning to become capable of saving a loved one in emergency and for professionals such as a daycare provider or a nurse. On a broad level, the CPR classes train students in administering CPR on adults, children and infants. While amateurs are generally trained to provide CPR to adults, the professionals are trained based on their professional requirements.
7. Do I need to pass an examination or a test to get a CPR certification?
All good CPR training agencies require their students to pass a skills test, during which they are required to demonstrate their CPR administration skills in practice. Depending on their performance in the test, they are awarded a certification. Even the well-known CPR training agencies which offer online programs, require the students to perform a physical skills demonstration to award a certification. Nevertheless, many agencies give away certifications without conducting any test and when the tests are conducted, the students are hardly rejected.
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