10 Apr CPR and First Aid Training Essentials: Skills and Knowledge

Giving CPR is a physically demanding thing, and you certainly need proper training to do it correctly. It’s not something you can do by just watching. Fortunately, it’s easy to get the right kind of certification safety training in Torrance, CA.

What Goes Into the Latest CPR Training?

The first thing to remember about administering CPR is that breaths are no longer required, nor even recommended in cases where the general public is administering CPR unless the person experiencing cardiac arrest is a child, has been rescued from drowning or a similar situation, or has known breathing issues. The current idea is for the person administering CPR only to do chest compressions. After years of analyzing data, both the Red Cross and other healthcare and first-aid organizations have determined that the break in tempo from the compressions to give breaths wound up being counterproductive.

Additionally, members of the general public are sometimes hesitant to seal their lips over someone else’s lips. The idea behind “hands-on” CPR is that doing something is better than nothing, which thereby increases the likelihood of a passerby giving CPR to save a life.

The Role of the Defibrillator

In cases where someone collapses in apparent cardiac arrest in or near a building, and considering that modern building codes for commercial spaces include a stipulation about having defibrillators available, then the chance of saving that person’s life is much greater than it would be in a situation where only chest compressions from a passerby were available. The two methods work very well together.

For example, a man collapses on the sidewalk outside a department store. Two passersby notice. One kneels and begins chest compressions while the other runs into the department store to find the defibrillator. The chest compressions buy time for the other person to return with the device. Together, they use it and save the man’s life.

Other First-Aid Training

Of course, not every situation will be life-threatening. Sometimes, someone could just have sprained an ankle or broken an arm. Painful and inconvenient, yes, but they’re not overly serious. Knowing how to make splints, stop bleeding, and prevent shock are all skills that you can learn in a general first-aid training session.

The general rule of thumb when administering first aid, whether to one person or to a group of people, is “The Three Bs,” which are breath, blood, and bones in that order. You see the person’s breathing first. Once the person can breathe, then you check for and staunch any bleeding. Only then should you set a fracture or sprain. In some cases, to see to someone’s breathing, you’ll have to administer CPR and/or use a defibrillator, so it’s best if you sign up to receive first-aid and/or CPR certification safety training in Torrance, CA.

Where to Go

Creation World Safety provides such training in multiple monthly classes, so finding one that fits your schedule shouldn’t be difficult. When you’re ready to educate yourself on helping people, saving lives, or both, then give us a call to book your place in the next series of classes.