In CPR classes, it is entirely up to the instructor to either make it an exciting and educational experience for students or turn the classes into monotonous seminars. Sharing knowledge in CPR training sessions is quite a responsible job. Students take away the lessons learnt in these sessions and possibly, implement them in real world situations on other people during emergencies. Incompetence on part of the instructor, the student or both could lead to dire consequences to people depending on them for their safety and health. For this reason, the instructor should be capable of imparting the students with critical knowledge that could be lifesaving during emergencies. Whether you are a student enrolling for a CPR class, institute hiring a CPR instructor or an HR intending to train your employees in CPR, be sure to check for these qualities of a good CPR instructor before signing up for classes.
- Experience
This is the single most crucial aspect of an instructor. Everybody can read a handbook on CPR and start firing away instructions to the students. But CPR training is more than that. Only an experienced instructor can reveal the nuances of a real-world CPR situation. A paramedic, nurse, EMT, lifeguard, and other similar professionals are the people who deal with such emergencies on a regular basis and will have dozens of stories to tell the students. This will give the class a holistic idea of what is expected of them in such situations.
- Passion and Procedural Knowledge
The instructor should believe in the importance of the job. A passionate instructor captivates the mind of the students like nothing else can. A teacher`s excitement easily penetrates into the students` minds and gets them to learn and understand the things at hand with more zeal. Such an instructor never lets a class become boring and compromise the learning of students.
An instructor should be motivated enough to keep oneself updated with the latest developments in the field of CPR. The guidelines are updated regularly and the instructor should be aware of the most recent guidelines. This will inspire the students to do the same.
- Knowledge of Human Anatomy and Physiology
A badly administered CPR may result in broken ribs, heart or lung contusions, hemothorax and other complications. The instructor should be able to make the students aware of the positions of the human organs and the correct ways of administering a CPR without causing damage to the internal organs.
- Communications Skills
The instructor should lead the class and facilitate learning. CPR is a serious subject and could be quite intimidating for the first time learners. An instructor with a good sense of humor can make the class fun, while managing to get the students to learn. Just telling stories will not cut it, an instructor should involve the students and make them understand how the lifesaving skill came handy in saving the lives of people on multiple occasions
- Technological Proficiency
A number of technological tools can be used to teach a class. Presentations on a projector are a very effective way of communicating with students. Internet could also be a great resource for learning, if properly utilized. The instructor can simply open CPR videos on YouTube and point out the common misconceptions about the procedure. The instructor should be familiar with such tools to connect with the audience in a more effective manner.