A CPR Recertification prepares you with a life-saving skill that is very useful to have. Knowledge of CPR means being able to help a person in an emergency. CPR skills are useful to have and can be used in the most unexpected situations.
Having a CPR certification is often a job requirement for certain positions like health care providers, first responders, lifeguards, teachers, and others. While their job position obligates them to know this life-saving skill, knowing this technique is not limited to a job. Parents and caregivers, as well as community organizations and volunteers, will also find that it is useful to know.
How is a CPR Recertification Different From a Certification?
Learning the importance of the CPR technique and how to administer it properly should be learned from professional trainers. There are specifically designed CPR courses where you must undergo theoretical and practical CPR training.
Once you complete the course, you will receive a CPR certificate for successful completion. The American Heart Association and the American Red Cross are the two institutions that issue CPR certificates approved in the USA.
Many think this is a skill you learn once, unaware that it is for life. That’s why it is important to upgrade and refresh your knowledge which is where CPR renewal, recertification, and refreshing play a big role.
Difference Between CPR Recertification, Renewal, and Refresher
The possibility of saving a life doesn’t mandate you to be certified, but it may be a job requirement to hold a CPR certificate. However, CPR certification is not valid for a lifetime, so it needs to be renewed.
Whether you should seek a renewal, recertification, or refresher course depends on a few factors. In essence, all these terms point to the same thing – updating your skills in CPR. The slight differences refer to the knowledge upgrade and the validity of your CPR certificate.
CPR renewal, or extension of your certificate, is done every two years, and it is not only a requirement but also a way to refresh your skills and knowledge and learn new and improved techniques. The renewal process is designed for those whose credentials are near expiration but are still valid.
Those who have an expired CPR certificate and have overstepped the 6-month window for renewal will need to get CPR recertification. This means that you will need to enroll in a CPR course and start the procedure again.
Best CPR practices and techniques evolve, and change, and memory fades over time. Neglecting to stay up-to-date with CPR-related information may lead to making mistakes which may, in turn, lead to endangering a person’s life. If you are someone who is experiencing this, you are due for a CPR refresher.
Why Extend a CPR Certificate?
There are multiple reasons why you would need to extend a CPR certificate. One of the main reasons people do it is to renew their skills and help to refresh their memory. It is also a way to keep up-to-date with the latest CPR techniques.
Many may object to the fact of extending their certificate, that it is just a way to be charged more money. However, the truth is that CPR’s physical components and concepts evolve continuously.
We are witnessing revolutionary innovations where health is concerned. Novelties in the medical industry have a domino effect and update every other branch connected to it. Like every other concept, CPR is facing emerging novelties, so what might have worked before may change over time.
How to Get Your CPR Recertification
Having a CPR certificate means you will need to extend or renew it after two years. Depending on what it is you are looking for, there are different ways to upgrade your CPR knowledge and skills.
Select a course that you are interested in and need for CPR recertification. Register online for the course, after which you’ll need to complete a training session and an in-person aptitude test. This is followed by getting a renewed CPR card.
Be mindful that online CPR training alone will not meet the standards recognized by OSHA. Physical skills and training can only be learned by going through in-person training.
Recertification
There are two ways to get CPR recertified, which are the same options you had when getting your initial certification. Traditional recertification requires completing a CPR class and hands-on training, all in person. Blended recertification means completing an online course and taking hands-on training in person.
Renewal
A CPR Renewal is much easier and faster than CPR Recertification, and there is a 6-month window to complete the renewal process. There are two ways to get a renewal, and one is enrolling in a renewal course where you’ll receive a reduced review of information from those you get in a standard course. It’s important to keep in mind that you should plan
If you are not looking for a review, then you can sign up for a challenge course. This includes testing your knowledge and ability to perform the CPR skills correctly.
Refresher
It’s normal for knowledge to fade over time, which is why CPR refresher courses are available. They help brush up on CPR skills and learn about the latest research. According to a Cleveland Clinic Heart Health Survey, 54% of Americans know how to perform CPR but have claimed they need a refresher course to upgrade their knowledge.
The recommendation is to have a refresher course 12 months after getting your initial certification. If you don’t get to practice CPR regularly, it’s recommended to refresh your knowledge even more often than that.
What Does a CPR Recertification Course Cover?
Every CPR class, whether it’s for Your CPR recertification, certification or renewal, is carried out by professional and experienced instructors who are more than willing to pass on the knowledge. You will be trained to perform CPR with confidence in any emergency.
Brush up on how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and recap the rescue breath and hands-on chest compression training. Saving a life is a great responsibility and must be done correctly and with the utmost care every time.
Who Needs a CPR Extension?
The certificate extension is intended for but is not limited to those whose job position requires them to do it. Employees like fitness instructors, safety and security professionals, community organizations and volunteers, and human resource managers are required to always hold a valid CPR certificate due to the nature of their work.
Healthcare Providers
CPR protocols change, and a healthcare provider must follow them by always holding a valid CPR certificate. Taking care of patients is a demanding and responsible job, and knowledge of the latest techniques is mandatory.
Human Resource Managers, Community Organizations, and Volunteers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) encourages workplace safety in every company and organization. Their study shows that nearly 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests happen in the workplace. Until an emergency medical team arrives, the employee needs assistance.
In cases when the heart stops, the employee collapses and stops breathing, every minute counts. This is why CPR Classes help train staff and management.
Parents and Caregivers
It is not rare for parents and caregivers to get certified in CPR. Learning how to provide CPR is highly recommended, especially for those who take care of young children and the elderly.
Kids are wild and carefree by nature and can be caught in situations that require immediate reaction. Burning, drowning, falling, and choking are just some occurrences that require an immediate emergency reaction, so knowing making sure you have your CPR recertification is beneficial for new parents.
On the other hand, the elderly may be responsible adults, but due to their age and limited motor and sometimes cognitive functions, they may put themselves in danger. Elders have numerous conditions that need to be monitored, and caregivers will surely find CPR useful when facing challenging and life-threatening situations.
Conclusions
Knowing CPR is both an advantage and a useful skill to possess. Whether it’s a job requirement or you did it for personal reasons, having a CPR certificate is a big plus. However, once you get it, be sure to maintain your knowledge and upgrade it regularly. Refresh your skills, learn new or updated CPR techniques, or simply renew your certificate by attending a CPR course. Forgetting to renew the certificate happens often, but you can always go back and get your CPR recertification.