Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class is an excellent way of learning some of the critical skills every person should possess. These skills can save the lives of a fellow human being who, quite often, could be a loved one. Various agencies, institutions and organizations provide certifications and training programs on the correct methods of administering a CPR. Although, the central idea is to train people in administering a CPR, many classes go further and induct the people with complementary knowledge and skills. Here, I have explored a broad range of topics and skills that are touched by CPR classes. Not all of these are covered by every institution and therefore it is recommended to inquire the scope of the classes before enrolling for them.
- Legal Implications:
An emergency requiring CPR is naturally a life and death situation. Consequently, the legal implications of the actions by various parties during the situation are also serious. Although it is the duty of a CPR professional to act and tend to such an emergency, considerations such as consent, scope of practice, confidentiality, documentation and so on are equally important. The classes train participants on the legal considerations and proper behavior to be followed with the victim.
- Protection against pathogens
The professionals are trained on the various methods of preventing the spreading of blood-borne pathogens from the victim. It is possible that an emergency victim is a patient of blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Therefore a professional should be well versed with precautions to be taken against exposure to such pathogens and also know the steps to be taken if an exposure occurs.
- Primary Assessment
One of the first things a professional is required to do in an emergency is to assess the conditions of the victim. Unconsciousness, breathing, pulse and bleeding are to be checked. The accuracy of the assessment is critical, for the correct administration of life-saving techniques to the victim. Classes discuss in depth, the steps to be taken during assessment of victims in various emergencies such as spinal injuries, drowning, vomiting and so on.
- Respiratory Distress Situations
In the pandemonium that ensues an emergency, it is difficult to notice important clues on the conditions of the victim such as Hypoxia, Choking or slow breathing. Professionals are trained to look for a dozen symptoms of respiratory distress in a victim and the assistances they can extend the victim.
- Cardiac Emergencies
This could be a tricky subject for a non-professional since the symptoms of cardiac emergencies are easily confused with muscle spasms or indigestion. A late response in identification of and response to a heart attack could mean death to the victim. CPR Professionals are trained to recognize the various causes and symptoms of a heart attack so that they can tend to the victims.
- Administration of CPR
CPR is a fairly complex technique and requires considerable skill on part of a professional. Factors such as hand position, chest compression rate, ventilations and others, have to be properly monitored while administering a CPR. These factors also depend on the age of the victim.
- Two-Rescuer CPR
In this method, one of the rescuers gives chest compressions, while the other administers ventilations in a synchronized manner. Since those few precious moments of emergency can be a deciding factor between life and death for the victim, an extra pair of hands is an advantage. The CPR classes train the participants on how to administer a two-rescuer CPR in sync with each other.
8. Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Most classes on AED may not cover the topic of AEDs for the simple reason that it is not something that is readily available to everybody in an emergency. They are available mostly with the Advanced Medical Personnel. However, some classes do cover AEDs in varying depths of detail. Typical knowledge explored in AED sessions include using an AED on adult, child and infant, precautions to be taken with AED and so on.
Most of the information on CPR is easily obtained online. But it is a fairly complex task and requires considerable skill on part of you to administering it. Therefore, it is your duty, as a responsible fellow human, to practice these skills in person in classes. What`s more, as someone with such life-skills, the people around you can depend on you to tend to them during an emergency.