There's always a degree of uncertainty when you're starting something new. What does it entail? Will it be overly complex? What if I make a mistake in an actual emergency? These are normal and legitimate questions to ask when you're learning cpr training for the first time, and fortunately, each and every one of them has a reassuring response.
CPR is learnable by virtually anyone. Not a medical profession. Does not need physical strength or technicality. There may be a learning curve and it does take a little practice, but it will need some structured training and the ability to invest a few hours in developing a skill that really counts.
Choose a positive mindset and approach to life.
It is helpful to change one mental habit prior to starting CPR Training. Many amateurs use it when they say, "I hope I never have to use this. This is a reasonable reaction, but can lead to a feeling of abstraction and distance in the training. The better frame of mind is: "This is a skill I am developing to be able to respond to emergencies when they arise, and I want to be the person who does.
This small change makes for a more meaningful learning and will keep you engaged throughout the course. CPR training is best when it is taken seriously as preparation and not a checkbox training.
Know the Chain of Survival.
Chain of survival is one of the first concepts taught in good cpr. These are the steps that can be taken in succession that will best increase the chances of recovery for cardiac arrest victims. The chain is: Acknowledge the emergency and call for help, start CPR as soon as possible, use an AED, if available, and provide professional medical attention.
This chain is all linked together. CPR, with no AED call, or AED call with no CPR is incomplete. Knowing this chain puts you in a broader context of the work of the emergency medical system and how much your actions as a bystander are part of it.
Develop Physical Technique Step by Step
The physical skill of cpr training is compressions of the chest to the correct depth (usually five to six centimeters for adults) and at the correct compression rate (one hundred to one hundred and twenty compressions per minute). Many trainers suggest that the compressions are timed to a familiar song with the same tempo that will allow you to maintain the compression rate more easily during times of stress.
Hand positioning also is significant. One hand is placed on the center of the chest, and the other hand is placed on top, and compressed down vertically. Your arms should be straight, and your shoulders should be directly over your hands. first aid courses, including CPR, always portray this in a visual way, which is more easily understood than it is written.
Users are required to watch these videos more than once.
If you see a technique in the video that seems easy, but you don't feel comfortable visualizing doing it on your own, go back and watch it again. And then watch it one more time. The number of times you can watch each module in an online course is unlimited, and repetition really is beneficial.
Information is better retained the more often a person is exposed to it, especially if the exposure is spread out in time. To watch a video just once, a day or two before moving on to the next module, is a much better way to learn than to watch the entire course in one session.
Employ the Quizzes as Learning Tools
When beginning quizzes, many students take an all-or-nothing attitude, fearing they are going to fail the quiz. Reframe this. In a first aid and cpr training course, quizzes are a great way to pinpoint what you don't have a firm grasp on, and that's a lot of information! One of the most effective learning strategies is to try to answer a question, and then to go back and review the section where you found the answer.
The quizzes are based on scenarios and decisions; not on gimmicks in the online CPR course. They develop your practical skills as well as your factual information.
Once you have completed the Course, Refresh the Knowledge
After obtaining your cpr certification, the education doesn't need to cease. Review the important modules periodically. Discuss the chain of survival. Re-watch the compression technique video. This type of review ensures that the information remains fresh in your mind and doesn't get lost.
Many opt to practice on a mannequin at a community event or health fair, where they see the knowledge of the visual aid and then feel it in their body. When it comes up, go for it.
Conclusion
Learning CPR as an "amateur" isn't as intimidating as it sounds. Understandable online courses take you step-by-step, your questions answered in videos, and interactive practice. First aid + CPR equals complete and confident emergency responder. Begin today, one module at a time, and complete with the Certificate of readiness!
CPR is learnable by virtually anyone. Not a medical profession. Does not need physical strength or technicality. There may be a learning curve and it does take a little practice, but it will need some structured training and the ability to invest a few hours in developing a skill that really counts.
Choose a positive mindset and approach to life.
It is helpful to change one mental habit prior to starting CPR Training. Many amateurs use it when they say, "I hope I never have to use this. This is a reasonable reaction, but can lead to a feeling of abstraction and distance in the training. The better frame of mind is: "This is a skill I am developing to be able to respond to emergencies when they arise, and I want to be the person who does.
This small change makes for a more meaningful learning and will keep you engaged throughout the course. CPR training is best when it is taken seriously as preparation and not a checkbox training.
Know the Chain of Survival.
Chain of survival is one of the first concepts taught in good cpr. These are the steps that can be taken in succession that will best increase the chances of recovery for cardiac arrest victims. The chain is: Acknowledge the emergency and call for help, start CPR as soon as possible, use an AED, if available, and provide professional medical attention.
This chain is all linked together. CPR, with no AED call, or AED call with no CPR is incomplete. Knowing this chain puts you in a broader context of the work of the emergency medical system and how much your actions as a bystander are part of it.
Develop Physical Technique Step by Step
The physical skill of cpr training is compressions of the chest to the correct depth (usually five to six centimeters for adults) and at the correct compression rate (one hundred to one hundred and twenty compressions per minute). Many trainers suggest that the compressions are timed to a familiar song with the same tempo that will allow you to maintain the compression rate more easily during times of stress.
Hand positioning also is significant. One hand is placed on the center of the chest, and the other hand is placed on top, and compressed down vertically. Your arms should be straight, and your shoulders should be directly over your hands. first aid courses, including CPR, always portray this in a visual way, which is more easily understood than it is written.
Users are required to watch these videos more than once.
If you see a technique in the video that seems easy, but you don't feel comfortable visualizing doing it on your own, go back and watch it again. And then watch it one more time. The number of times you can watch each module in an online course is unlimited, and repetition really is beneficial.
Information is better retained the more often a person is exposed to it, especially if the exposure is spread out in time. To watch a video just once, a day or two before moving on to the next module, is a much better way to learn than to watch the entire course in one session.
Employ the Quizzes as Learning Tools
When beginning quizzes, many students take an all-or-nothing attitude, fearing they are going to fail the quiz. Reframe this. In a first aid and cpr training course, quizzes are a great way to pinpoint what you don't have a firm grasp on, and that's a lot of information! One of the most effective learning strategies is to try to answer a question, and then to go back and review the section where you found the answer.
The quizzes are based on scenarios and decisions; not on gimmicks in the online CPR course. They develop your practical skills as well as your factual information.
Once you have completed the Course, Refresh the Knowledge
After obtaining your cpr certification, the education doesn't need to cease. Review the important modules periodically. Discuss the chain of survival. Re-watch the compression technique video. This type of review ensures that the information remains fresh in your mind and doesn't get lost.
Many opt to practice on a mannequin at a community event or health fair, where they see the knowledge of the visual aid and then feel it in their body. When it comes up, go for it.
Conclusion
Learning CPR as an "amateur" isn't as intimidating as it sounds. Understandable online courses take you step-by-step, your questions answered in videos, and interactive practice. First aid + CPR equals complete and confident emergency responder. Begin today, one module at a time, and complete with the Certificate of readiness!