As a CPR instructor, one of the most common questions I get is, “Why do we need to take this again?”
The answer is simple. Taking CPR classes over and over is crucial for developing quality physical skills. Taking CPR Classes again and again helps students remember the steps and important considerations.
Physical Skills Need To Be Practiced
The American Heart Association has found the physical skills learned in CPR classes need to be practiced often in order to be able to perform them well in real life. The AHA actually recommends retraining every year!
There are two main skills that need to be practiced:
- CPR Compressions
- CPR Ventilations
Compressions – The compressions create a blood flow to the brain and keep it viable until the Defibrillator (AED) arrives. Contrary to popular belief – as seen on TV – compressions unfortunately don’t bring people back. They just keep them on hold…
Breaths – The breaths are simply to freshen up the oxygen content of the lungs. The air you breathe in has 21% oxygen in it. When you exhale, you blow out air that has about 16.5% oxygen. So there is plenty of oxygen in your bad breath to sustain life.
Practicing both compressions and breaths in CPR classes makes all the difference.
Quality Training Is Of Paramount Importance
If CPR classes bore you to tears, you won’t retain much. Your card isn’t what saves lives, your skills do that.
I know that most of the CPR classes out there are duds. It is important to find a quality company that not only supplies you with that card, but supplies you with those skills.
When safety and life come first, the quality and frequency of CPR classes never come last.
When you mix Quality and Frequency into taking CPR Classes, the result is more lives saved.
Benjamin Karp is the President of Georgia CPR, LLC. GACPR is a full-service safety company. They offer complete solutions including individual CPR training, product consultation, and advice on developing a custom AED emergency response program for your entire organization. For more information or to register for an Atlanta CPR Class visit: www.gacpr.com
Benjamin shares his opinions, not legal advice, about increasing performance and limiting liability.