Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, and anywhere, so it’s important for bystanders to provide victims with proper CPR to increase their survival chances. According to an academic study by the Office of Community Engagement Faculty, the survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are estimated to be between 6% and 14% in the Louisville metro area.
While bystander-initiated CPR significantly increases the survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the cardiac arrest victims that receive CPR remain very low. Improving the survival rates of cardiac arrest victims will increase the quality of life. Hence, it’s key to have more trained CPR individuals. But who should be trained and certified in CPR? Keep reading to find out more on the topic.
Which Professions Require Certified CPR Staff?
Certain professions require valid CPR certification and proper CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) training. This is because the nature of their job requires them to recognize life-threatening situations, provide high-quality compressions, and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Medical and Healthcare Professionals
Medical and healthcare professionals who need CPR training and certification are doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other medical personnel, including dentists and dental hygienists. Logically healthcare professionals have long been the backbone of emergency and first-response teams around the country.
Cardiac arrests very often happen in hospitals, approximately 290,000 per year in the US, so medical personnel needs to be able to provide high-quality CPR immediately.
First Responders
Police and law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are also required to undergo CPR training to ensure prompt response in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA).
These individuals are often the initial point of contact in an emergency situation or a medical accident and must be ready to provide immediate assistance before the victims are transported to a medical facility.
By being trained and certified in CPR, the first responder teams can bridge the gap between the occurrence of a medical emergency and the arrival of professional medical help, significantly increasing the chances of survival for the affected victim.
Teachers and School Staff
Considering the number of children and adolescents present in educational institutions, it is a good and valuable practice for teachers and other school staff to be trained and certified in CPR. As we all know, medical emergencies can occur at any time and in any place, so school hours are not excluded, and that is where the lives of young children may be put at risk if there is no CPR-prepared staff.
The state of Kentucky requires all teachers to have adult, child, and infant CPR certification, including AED use and First Aid.
Other Good Candidates for CPR Training and Certification
CPR training should not be limited only to medical personnel and first responders. Providing prompt CPR in case of an emergency is said to double and even triple the victim’s chances for survival. This is why it’s important that everyone is trained in the basics of CPR and be prepared for any emergency.
Parents, Babysitters, and Caregivers
Children, especially infants, are particularly susceptible to accidents and other emergencies. Whether it’s choking, drowning, or breathing problems, cardiac arrests are common in the youngest. That’s why it’s important for parents and babysitters to undergo proper CPR training and certification.
If there is a medical emergency and a caregiver is not well prepared to give CPR, the child’s life may be in danger. Similarly, caregivers who take care of the elderly, as another high-risk age group, should be prepared to provide emergency CPR in the case of cardiac arrest.
Workplace Employees
Given that adults spend a significant portion of their time at work, having CPR training and certification for employees in various workplaces is highly beneficial. Actually, in all places with a higher concentration of people, whether it is an office, a construction site, or a retail establishment, potential medical emergencies can happen.
However, by having CPR-trained and certified employees, workplaces can create a safer environment and empower workers to respond promptly in different emergencies, such as an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Companies in Louisville can take the initiative to organize CPR training programs for their employees, promoting a culture of safety and preparedness to improve the feeling of safety of employees and, with it, the company’s overall productivity.
The General Public
This is quite a broad category; however, the general public should be encouraged to undertake proper CPR training and certification, as medical emergencies are unpredictable and can happen outside of professional settings.
That is where having CPR-trained individuals in the community can be a lifesaver in the question of life and death. Public awareness campaigns, community actions, and training programs can help spread the importance of CPR training and motivate more people to learn this life-saving skill.
By having a bigger percentage of the population trained and certified in CPR, there will be more bystander-initiated responses, and the out-of-hospital heart arrest survival rates will rise in the long term. Hence, by fostering a culture of CPR education, a city can cultivate a community that stands strong, hand in hand, prepared to face any challenge that comes along the way.
A Society Prepared for Emergencies
Life is unpredictable, and the world is filled with uncertainties. Still, being prepared means that the outcomes of a potential emergency can be predicted and positive.
For better or for worse, CPR training gives us the knowledge and proper skills and prepares us to save a life, if a situation like that arises. By increasing the number of people that are trained in various CPR techniques, such as hands-only CPR or classic CPR, societies as a whole will be more prepared for emergencies and will administer them in a better and more sustainable way.
In recent years, the number of bystander-initiated CPR has increased significantly, thus increasing the survival on arrival at the hospital.
Goals for Increasing CPR Training and Certification Practices
- Immediate response can save lives – reacting timely to an emergency can significantly improve the odds of surviving a sudden heart arrest.
- Increasing survival rates – CPR training increases the survival rates
- Empowering individuals to be heroes – saving a life can create a whole new purpose for a person who has the proper training and knowledge on how to do CPR
- Creating a culture of compassion – for better, stronger, and safer communities
- Making CPR training accessible – with good CPR training conditions, the interest in undertaking CPR classes will raise
- Raising awareness – raising awareness on the importance of CPR
Conclusion
Who should be trained and certified in CPR is a question that is often asked, as the importance of widespread CPR training must be addressed. The more people trained and certified in CPR in the cities, the safer and happier places will be, and many lives will be saved.
In addition to the medical professionals and first responders that typically have to undergo training, it’s very beneficial to have other categories of people trained or/and certified in CPR as well. Teachers, school staff, workplace employees, parents, and the general public are all included in the list of who should be trained and certified in CPR. Therefore, let us embrace the power of CPR training, and in doing so, we empower ourselves and those around us to face life’s unexpected challenges with confidence and resilience.