Every time a layperson can save a person experiencing a respiratory or cardiac emergency, due credit goes first and foremost to the CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and First Aid Instructor who trains and makes sure their clients can perform emergency aid when the situation calls for it. Continue Reading
Explore Career What are the typical responsibilities of a CPR and First Aid Instructor?
A CPR & First Aid Instructor would typically need to:
CPR & First Aid Instructors may need to conduct training indoors and outdoors in all kinds of weather to replicate real-life situations their students might encounter in the future. Indoor work settings generally include sports halls, school classrooms, and community centres or a hired venue.
A typical training session usually involves public speaking and demonstration. The students may range from individuals entering the medical field to those training to become lifeguards or teachers.
You may need to travel to provide training on-site after working hours, so trainees may have a better chance to attend the course.
You may schedule your courses during regular business hours, but a savvy CPR and First Aid Instructor is aware that they may need to work evenings and weekends to match the client's schedule.
Finding a new job might seem challenging. You can boost your job search by asking your network for referrals, contacting companies directly, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.
CPR & First Aid Instructors are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations such as The Red Cross are crucial for a CPR & First Aid Instructor interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Look for the local chapter in your country. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
All your certifications will require you to use the skills being taught in a realistic situation. They may also mandate a two-year work experience as one of the prerequisites for certification.
Any experience in the medical or healthcare field will testify to your commitment to learning to handle potentially critical situations. Most CPR & First Aid Instructors would have accumulated significant work experience as emergency medical technicians or certified nursing assistants.
The national organisation responsible for healthcare in your location may offer basic CPR programs, which will allow you to take a call on whether to continue with the instructor training program.
Also, be on the lookout for opportunities to gain experience as a scout or military cadet. Personal anecdotes drawn from all these exercises will add flavour to the teaching experience.
Most CPR & First Aid Instructors hold an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, medical technology, or business. However, a high school diploma is also accepted, provided you earn the required certifications and licenses. A small percentage have a master’s degree in related fields.
Successful completion of a short accredited classroom course on creating practical lessons and the various ways to assess learners will qualify you in education and training. Additional classes to improve your written and oral communication skills will facilitate your training sessions and make them crystal clear to your clients who may need to access the knowledge in a medical emergency.
You will require certification from an objective and reputed organisation in first aid, CPR, and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) courses. They will be your most valuable tools when it is your turn to train others on the latest life-saving skills and techniques.
Successful certification programs also protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Most programs are available in online, classroom or hybrid formats.
If you wish to specialise as a trainer in a school setting, it will help to complete the Pediatric First Aid Course or its equivalent, which may take around 12 hours. Core Instructor Courses may include planning & preparation, management, methods of instruction, and cultural sensitivity.
Some course providers offer additional training in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), which will go a long way in establishing your reputation in the market. Trainees learn to teach the techniques and are also qualified to hand out completion cards to those who take their class in the future.
Your local Red Cross Training Services may also offer instructor certification programs designed for a specific audience, such as babysitters, professional childcare providers, lifeguards, and emergency response professionals.
Check the requirements of authorised service providers for specific requirements. </>Most certifications require passing an exam. Some may include a pre-course exam. A driver’s license is essential to use your vehicle to transport all the training equipment to the training sites.
You may make your professional entry into the field through a program institute where administrative positions are the only way up. However, with significant experience and expertise to back you up, you can apply for instructor posts in the police department, ambulance services and community healthcare centres.
With additional skills and adequate capital, CPR and First Aid Instructors can make their cherished dream of opening their own business come true. You can also become a paramedic and be responsible for saving lives directly regularly.
Candidates with advanced certifications in BLS, CPR HVC ACLS, and PALS will have the best job prospects.
Recertification is the magic word. Check for the requirements and make sure all your certifications stay valid. You will need to master good marketing and advertising skills to fulfil the dream of owning a business.
Heartfelt Benefits
CPR and First Aid training is an easily accessible career. Once you are in, there is very little probability that you will get physically injured during First Aid training, which involves using a simulation dummy; neither will the physical strain be a matter of concern - the demonstration dolls are not particularly heavy and require minimal lifting and carrying.
Be in the Pink
CPR and First Aid training will stand you in good stead in a bloated job market. It is concrete proof of your innate leadership skills, ability to teach and communicate effectively in a group or one-on-one setting, and your commitment to give back to society.
All the professional interactions with medical professionals who come to you to get certified and recertified in CPR and BLS may be worth their weight in gold if you decide to make a fresh start in the medical field, e.g., a paramedic.
The Legalities
CPR & First Aid Instructors should invest in public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance in the unlikely event that a member of the public holds them responsible for any damage or injury caused due to an error in the performance of a procedure. Both are relatively cost-effective and will prevent a lot of heartburn.
Dress Code
CPR and First Aid Trainers may need to wear a uniform, usually a T-shirt with the employer’s logo. In any case, clothes that make it easy to move around are recommended. To put it simply ABC stands for airway, breathing, and circulation, to be carried out in that order. Once ABC is secured, the person offering first aid may shift focus to ancillary treatment.
Make sure the Airway is clear to prevent fatal choking. Check whether the person can Breathe. If the person cannot breathe, go straight for chest compressions and rescue breathing to promote Circulation and save valuable time. If it is not a life-threatening emergency, check the pulse.
Some organisations may add a fourth step, ‘D’ - Deadly bleeding or Defibrillation, while others consider this an integral part of Circulation. This specific act comes into effect when severe wounds need dressing, or the heart may need defibrillation.
CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation helps to maintain the flow of oxygenated blood. BLS or basic life support requires knowledge and skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), using automated external defibrillators (AED) and relieving airway obstructions in patients of every age.
A wise soul noted that the world needs people who can save or extend lives. The role CPR & First Aid Instructors play in learning and passing on the invaluable knowledge and skills that help avert many a medical fatality serves a noble purpose while earning them a decent livelihood.
When people memorise something without truly understanding it, they haven’t learned it. When a skill is taught in the context of a need or is attached to emotion through an experience, it is truly understood. Only then can you gain the confidence to practise that skill and leave your fears behind. – Yalcin Or
Most people are either unsure how to administer proper CPR or have forgotten completely. No wonder then that the first aid instructor workforce is increasing steadily.
What do CPR & First Aid Instructors do?
A CPR & First Aid Instructor would typically need to:
Accredited
$46,638
