Enrolling In Bay Area CPR Training Classes Is A Worthwhile Endeavor

By Essie Craft


CPR, which is the abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a life-saving action that can be taken when a person's heart is no longer beating or he or she has lost oxygen and is therefore unconscious. A person should enroll in a new class every 2 years in order to stay abreast of the latest information and techniques regarding this life-saving activity. An individual will be able to assist various men and women in different emergency situations after completing a Bay Area CPR training class.

Certain people choose to take a class of this type for personal reasons. However, in numerous instances, one's employer suggests that the person become certified. Companies have various reasons for wanting their employees to obtain such certification. Many times, the company itself pays for the training. If such an opportunity is available for free, one should never turn it down.

Such classes typically include extra training in addition to CPR. For example, the instructor will usually give a thorough overview of how to handle minor emergencies, such as abrasions, burns, sprains, concussions, and various minor injuries. The teacher will usually talk about different ways maintain a safe atmosphere for the ill or injured individual, as well. In certain cases, the instructor will also go over how to move an individual if this is necessary before medical personnel arrived.

Most courses also explain the importance of selecting a specific person to telephone for emergency help. The Heimlich maneuver and how to perform it properly are also topics that are generally always included in such training. When the basic factors involved in emergency care are taught, the instructor will then move on to actual CPR training.

The maneuver itself involves completing chest compressions and breathing oxygen into the injured individual's lungs. Those who know how to perform this action properly may be able to prevent death in certain cases. Dummies are typically used to simulate a victim during the course of the training, as this ensures that participants can hone their skills and practice their technique. The instructor will also thoroughly explain the differences among adult, child, and infant CPR techniques.

Courses of this type also generally cover how to appropriately use an automated defibrillator. The latter is a device that can be used to start a person's heart if it is not beating, and subsequently prevent his or her death until medical help arrives. Also called an AED device, such machines are often found in airports and commercial establishments. If one does not know how to use such a device appropriately, he or she should not attempt to do so.

Courses of this type are provided by a variety of organizations. These include hospitals, colleges, and volunteer fire departments. There is a charge for some programs, while other courses are offered for free. Anyone who is interested in participating should call their local hospital or college and inquire about whether or not any courses are expected to be scheduled in subsequent months.

Any individual who is having difficulties finding a Bay Area CPR training program should speak to a representative at his or her Health Department and inquire about sponsoring a local class. No one ever knows ahead of time when a life-threatening emergency may happen. Those who understand how to complete CPR, however, may be able to save an individual's life who would have died without such help. Therefore, pursuing such a program is a worthwhile endeavor.




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