Today, knowing how to perform CPR, mouth to mouth resuscitation, and using a first aid kit can save lives, and a person who has training for these medical methods can act fast in the case of a medical emergency in the workplace or a different public place to aid someone who is suffering a heart attack, breathing difficulty, or other medical issues that a trained person can address. Knowing how to reset a dislocated joint or even set a broken bone can go a long way to helping someone in distress until professional medical help can be brought in, such as an ambulance that can then take the victim to a hospital. A person does not have to improvise medical help (in fact, that may be dangerous). Instead, there are classes available for people to take, such as Basic Life Support, or BLS classes, and taking a basic life support class or a CPR class or even a first aid training course can make either an aspiring professional or a concerned citizen much more able to handle a medical emergency when one arises in everyday life. What can be learned at BLS classes? Where can one find a CPR training course? CPR certification can be useful for an ordinary citizen, and probably mandatory for a medical professional.
The Training
According to Very Well Health, BLS classes can provide basic certification for any life-saving training, and the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and other similar associations can provide these sort of classes for those interested or required to take them. These courses are convenient for students to take, since they take only a few hours of time to complete and they may be augmented by online instructions, and the certification one receives from BLS classes will last one to two years. Re-certification will be needed every so often as newer medical techniques are developed and put into standard use. Various professionals who work in areas prone to medical emergencies, such as lifeguards, nurses, or those who care for small children or the elderly are required to take these classes. Optionally, others who work in public, such as librarians, babysitters, and nannies may benefit from this training as an emergency option.
Basic mouth to mouth resuscitation and CPR are the main techniques taught in BLS classes, and students will be trained to use these methods for children, adults, and even infants. The main advantage to these medical procedures is that no equipment is needed to carry them out, and anyone performing them should keep the ABC method in mind: the Airway should be cleared of obstructions so air can get into the lungs properly, Breathing must allow the lungs to completely fill with air, and Circulation of blood must be healthy and optimal so that oxygen is delivered to the entire body.
During training, students will practice these methods on dummies, and the students must also learn to carry out these procedures with calm and focus, and to not panic in case of a medical emergency. On top of that, students will learn about critical thinking and correctly assessing a scene, as well as legal ramifications of their actions during an actual medical emergency. BLS classes may often teach about situations where there is more than one first aid-capable person on a scene, and students will have to pass a written test about basic knowledge of what to do and when during a real medical emergency.
A person may also take basic training courses for other medical or safety measures as well, such as how to use and apply bandages to a wound like gauze and patch-type bandages, to minimize blood loss and maintain correct pressure on a wound so that a victim does not bleed out. Learning the Heimlich maneuver can help someone rescue anyone who is suffering a choking hazard, and there are even established methods of this maneuver to use on dogs. Where equipment is concerned, students at a safety class may also learn how to quickly and effectively use a fire extinguisher in case of open flames, since an untrained person might panic or may not even know how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
