Risks and emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. In Canada alone, out of the 40,000 cardiac arrests, 85% happen outside of hospitals — at home or in public spaces. More than half of which do not receive CPR and not more than 10% of public cardiac arrests survive. Knowing how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is considered an essential life skill.
This skill will make you ready for an emergency and allow you to respond to situations quickly and properly. Even if you are not a medical professional, it pays to be prepared to respond to distress and attempt to stabilize the situation before paramedics arrive. The chances of survival doubles if CPR is given within the first 2 minutes of cardiac arrest.
First aid and CPR training are made mandatory in certain companies to ensure that employees can address cardiac arrest emergencies.
What Is CPR Training?
CPR is a life-saving emergency method performed to save a person when their heartbeat or breathing has stopped. The procedure ensures that the oxygenated blood keeps flowing and vital organs are receiving a supply of blood until the heartbeat is back to normal. There 2 common versions of CPR:
- Standard or Conventional CPR
Standard CPR is the most common kind of CPR training. It includes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions. Breathing air into a person’s mouth pushes oxygen into their lungs while compressions ensure blood circulation after the heart stops pumping.
- Bystander CPR
Bystander CPR is a first aid method conducted by a person close to the situation, but is not part of the emergency response team. This is usually a compression-only CPR or CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. Bystanders or the general public, even with the basic CPR knowledge, are crucial in emergency situations, considering the high number of cardiac arrests that happen in public areas.
Training also includes knowing how to spot life-threatening conditions. It is important as well when administering first aid that the victim’s conditions are adequately assessed, especially when they are unconscious. Undergoing CPR training allows you to take care of people who are in need of special attention, such as people with a physical or mental disability, epilepsy, or children, among others.
Contrary to what many people may assume, CPR training is not exclusive for medics, law enforcers, and other public personnel, like security guards. Civilians are also highly encouraged to gain knowledge in first aid. The ability to perform proper CPR is literally a matter of life and death. Learning how to react to emergencies can also be your best chance of saving your loved ones.
Importance of Learning CPR
Currently, the awareness and preparedness of people in the event of a medical emergency — whether it’s cardiac arrest, choking, or drowning — is quite low. Many still are at a loss in instances where someone collapses. For life or death scenarios where time is of the essence, administering CPR is a necessary skill.
Recognize and Respond to Life-Threatening Emergencies
The most significant benefit of CPR is that it saves lives. The fate and health of a victim can depend on the actions taken right after they get into trouble. CPR and first aid training provides people the skill and knowledge to understand the different emergency situations and how to manage them accordingly. It gives you the confidence to offer assistance when medical help is still on its way. Likewise, you will also be in the best position to provide valuable information to responders as soon as they arrive, helping save time and speeding up the treatment process.
- Prevent Occurrences of Life-Threatening Situations
Having the ability to recognize health emergencies also allows you to prevent them from reoccurring. Training provides you awareness of the various causes of injuries and their preventive measures. Your knowledge can provide your home, workplace, or community insights on how life-threatening cases can be avoided. Appropriate precautionary measures can also be set up in places where emergencies are mostly anticipated.
- Maintain Calmness Amid Emergency
CPR and first aid training also teach you how to respond calmly during emergencies. Knowledge in CPR does not only allow you to provide assistance, but also to take charge, make proper decisions, and give instructions when necessary. It is often inevitable for the public to panic or crowd when a situation occurs. During these times, it’s vital that you have the skill to manage crowds and direct teams.
- Create Trust and Confidence Within the Community
Home, work, or public spaces can be disrupted by potential health risks or injuries. However, if there are people that they know can help them if they suddenly fell ill, these worries can be alleviated. It is a boost of confidence to the community if they are able to see, for example, that trained people or personnel are stationed within their vicinity.
- Perform Multiple Roles
Having first aid knowledge also makes you a well-rounded person and an exceptionally resourceful person. Training equips you with the skills and expertise to deliver aid and also teach you legal information with regard to emergency situations. You are trained to lead and also to function as a member of a team. Additionally, what you learn from training can be used almost anywhere.
- Build A Career
Knowing how to conduct first aid and CPR can help you with your job prospects. Employers find first aid skills highly valuable to the company, and having it on your resume can give you an upper hand. If you’ve had CPR training, it can show that you are quick on your feet, have passion and empathy, and capable of handling stressful situations calmly. If you are also looking into jobs in public service or the security field, as a security guard, CPR training is now an essential requirement.
CPR and First Aid Certification in Ontario
CPR and first aid training are highly recommended if you are looking to expand your skills and be of help to the community. It gives you an advantage if you are in search of a job or building a career.
If you are aspiring to become a security guard, CPR and first aid skills are necessary for the job. Besides security and safety, it is also part of your responsibility to manage emergency-related situations. You are expected to be the first to respond, contact the emergency hotline for help, assess the scene and provide information to responders, and ensure that people within the area are aware of and away from danger.
For persons interested in CPR training for security guards, Centre for Security Training & Management Inc. (CSTMI) is offering a First Aid & CPR “C” course. CSTMI has been providing professional protective services and security training for over 16 years. Our accredited CPR program can help grow your career.
For answers to questions including “How much does CPR training cost?” or “How long is CPR training good for?”, call our hotline (416) 750-4747 or send us an email at info@centreforsecurity.com.