By J. A. Young
When taking a CPR course, many instructors are quite skilled at delivering their curriculum to students. Everyone can expect to learn the basics and obtain what they need to know in order to be certified at performing CPR should an emergency situation arise. Yet the curriculum isn’t the entire story. Like other healthcare related fields, CPR students should consider supporting their coursework with added resources and tools that may help them gain a broader understanding and appreciation for CPR and their place in the field. The following tools can be enriching resources for anyone learning CPR or getting recertified.
Many hospitals, especially large ones, have medical libraries. These libraries are excellent facilities that often contain the latest medical journals in various fields along with computers, research databases, and a wide array of research materials. Moreover, they may even contain mixed media materials like videos that can help people in the healthcare field study or perform research on a given topic like CPR. Medical libraries also employ librarians that may provide knowledgeable assistance about their resource materials and can help point out items that may be useful for anyone training in CPR.
Digital Resources
Many people taking CPR training classes find that apps can be especially useful. The American Heart Association has developed an app called Pocket First Aid & CPR. The app provides concise and clear information as well as step-by-step instructions. For use with both iPhones and Android smartphones, the app and others like it are essential for trainees. Moreover, even people who have completed their CPR training will find this app can bolster all that they have learned which can be especially helpful as people are likely to forget important details of training when they have not used them on a regular basis. A simple Google search will reveal many other important apps that can assist trainees involved with CPR or BLS (Basic Life Support).
Internet Blogs
Many certified CPR instructors post regular blogs as do many other instructors in related fields. Reading blogs is a great way to stay tuned to the latest news stories associated with CPR or BLS and to connect with other certified CPR instructors or trainees. Blogs contain all sorts of useful information–even anecdotes that may impart some important advise that didn’t come up in class. Often CPR blogs will focus on life-saving events where CPR was used to help someone in an emergency situation. See if your CPR training professional has a blog or, perhaps, you may even follow several that can provide you with a multitude of CPR-related posts.
CPR is some of the most important training you can do. Yet one never knows when it may be needed. Therefore, it’s vital to stay up on the topic and to review various aspects of the training. Resources like apps and blogs can certainly help. If you are currently enrolled in CPR training, don’t forget to check the medical library for added support materials that can enhance your coursework.