Reasons To Take A CPR Class
Despite various Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) policies in place in most organizations, accidents happen or people fall dangerously ill losing consciousness, requiring emergency first aid response.
Often times when a heart attack or drowning victim loses consciousness, the time spent getting to a hospital or calling for an ambulance to get there means the person is not receiving any kind of first aid within that crucial period. However, if there is someone with knowledge of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on the scene, it doesn’t have to be that way. Read on to see ten benefits of taking a CPR class.
1. The Ability To Save Lives
CPR, when administered on time to an unconscious person, has been known to triple survival chances especially in the case of a heart attack where a few minutes can literally mark the difference between life and death. An unconscious person’s survival chances can be very slim. With CPR being performed immediately, the survival rate increases by as much as 40%. With each passing minute of delayed response, the survival chances drop by 10%. Still need further convincing to head for that CPR class?
2. A CPR Class Boosts Confidence
Knowledge, especially of something not possessed by many such as CPR brings with it, confidence. When such knowledge is possessed by persons within an organization, there is the effect of it giving others an emotional safety net so to speak where it is known that should anyone fall into a heart attack, there is trained personnel on the ground to provide natural assistance sans medication. The one with the training also knows that he/she is in a position to handle a potentially life-threatening situation should it take place.
3. It Helps Increase Survival Rate
As is natural and understandable, panic sets in with screaming for someone to call for an ambulance when a person falls unconscious. Imagine how much more controlled the situation could be if you have CPR training? Where a loss of consciousness is as a result of a heart attack, the possibility of brain trauma/damage can happen within minutes of the attack. With a trained CPR practitioner on the scene using chest compression and rescue breathing techniques, a heartbeat and breathing can be restored and potential brain damage averted before the paramedics arrive.
4. Could Aid Employment Opportunities
Depending on the field you work in, knowledge and certification in CPR could heighten your chances of getting that job or even a raise in your current position. Jobs in hazardous settings such as oil rigs, construction sites, swimming pools as a lifeguard, a gym instructor or even as a child care provider especially for children with special needs are areas where your knowledge would come in handy and be rewarded.
5. You Know Exactly What To Do
Often times when a person around us suddenly loses consciousness, the natural human instinct is to panic, then try to help with ‘first aid’ that could actually be worsening the patient’s situation. Well-meaning persons have been known to crowd around an unconscious person blocking off fresh air. When you have taken CPR classes though, fear tends to ride backseat as you understand exactly what is happening and what critical first response step is to be taken.
6. A Sense Of Responsibility Sets In
The popular saying goes ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. Regarding CPR, power can be replaced with responsibility. Awareness that your knowledge, when used in an emergency, can significantly heighten a victims survival rate, one is much more responsible and unlikely to be unexplainably absent for long periods during which an emergency. This could very easily happen and cannot provide the needed emergency resuscitation; especially in a work environment where you are the designated CPR trained emergency first responder.
7. You Are An Asset Wherever You Go
Knowledge of CPR can be very impressive not only to employers but even family and friends. Remember how safe you used to feel having your doctor friend around during pool parties? You were so confident that should an emergency arise someone with the medical knowledge to handle it was around. Now you are that symbol of comfort for friend, family and employers alike to feel safe and confident knowing you are there with your knowledge of CPR, capable of handling any emergency that might arise.
8. You Learn To Use An Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An AEB is a piece of portable medical equipment used to analyze the heart’s natural rhythm and sends an electrical shock to the heart as required, helping to restore its rhythm. With a CPR training class, you not only learn what they are used for but also how they work, where you can get one and more importantly how to effectively use it in the event of an emergency. Even better, you don’t particularly need to have some sort of medical background before learning CPR. Persons from all walks of life can take advantage of this life-saving training.
9. You Get To Receive Hands-On Training
Seeing as learning off Youtube videos are the in thing, one might wonder if sitting in a classroom to learn CPR the ‘old fashioned way’ is really worth it. In a class though, you get to learn from the professionals who have been performing CPR for years and have handled often personally various real-life experiences. Paramedics, firefighters, and nurses among other medical personnel when training are able to give practical assistance on how to handle a variety of possible situations involving a critically ill and unconscious person.
10. It Is Cost Effective
When running a business, workplace safety is key. Having people with first responder training especially CPR can be invaluable and literally save lives in the event of an emergency. Having your own in house medical expert would cut costs than having to wait for an ambulance and the ensuing panic and confusion should a colleague suddenly go into cardiac arrest which is happening more often as people don’t take cognizance of unhealthy lifestyle habits.
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