Before an ambulance can ever arrive on the scene, certain medical emergencies require someone trained in lifesaving techniques to keep the victim alive and improve their medical outcome. First aid, CPR, and bloodborne pathogen training are common certifications that will allow you to assist and heroically save a life in an emergency. You might know these trainings are sometimes offered by workplaces or community centers, but did you know that you can also get certified online?
Here are some first aid certifications you might want to consider:
1. The CPR and First Aid Bundle
The CPR and first aid bundle is a popular option for those looking to learn the basics of first response and receive first aid certifications, without assuming there will be special equipment on hand like an automated external defibrillator (AED). The bundle will teach you CPR, which you can put to use for drowning, sudden cardiac arrest, and other conditions that affect a victim’s respiratory and cardiac systems.
A first aid course will teach you to manage many acute medical emergencies. You will learn how to respond to anaphylaxis and allergic reactions. You’ll learn what to do if someone ingests or comes in contact with a poisonous substance and how to help someone having a seizure. You’ll also learn how to help with shock, heat stroke, hypothermia, and stroke.
You will know what to do when someone becomes injured. If someone has severe bleeding, burns, broken bones, or starts choking, they will need medical help right away. In many of these cases, they will be unable to wait for an emergency medical team to arrive in order to receive care.
2. The CPR, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogen Bundle
The CPR, first aid, and bloodborne pathogen bundle covers all of the first aid certifications listed above plus what to do if you or someone else come into contact with blood and other bodily fluids that might contain pathogens that cause HIV, hepatitis, and other illnesses. This is a great add-on since it teaches you how to keep yourself and others safe while administering first response care.
3. The CPR and AED Bundle
The CPR and AED bundle will give you additional training on how to use an AED. An AED is much more effective at treating sudden cardiac arrest than CPR alone, and if you have one available, you should learn how to use it in order to save a life.
Get Your First Aid Certifications and Save a Life
Now that you’ve learned the ways that you can help others in an emergency, you can imagine the usefulness of this training. Of course, the first step is always to call 911, but if you can’t wait for help to arrive, first aid certifications will give you the knowledge to perform first response. When you take courses online to get officially certified, you will receive a first aid responder’s certification card that you can use to show your credentials and reduce liability in a situation where you need to save someone’s life.