First aid and CPR are both taken in emergencies to save lives. CPR is specific, while first aid is a broad practice encompassing CPR, among other basic lifesaving skills.
How to get CPR and First Aid Certified?
Enroll in a CPR/AED First Aid Certification course, either online courses or classroom-based, as long as it follows the American Heart Association guidelines. After successful completion of the CPR certification course, you will receive a certification card, valid for two years.
What's the Difference Between CPR and First Aid?
First aid and CPR are both taken in emergencies to save lives. CPR is specific, while first aid is a broad practice encompassing CPR, among other lifesaving skills. CPR and first aid training are available to interested persons through institutions of choice, mostly through online certification programs. These two are crucial skills and knowledge as they can make a difference between life and death.
In CPR, the victim is usually unconscious and without a detectable pulse. Therefore, a person receiving CPR can hardly perform it on themselves. The same doesn't always apply to persons receiving first aid. Persons can deliver first aid to themselves — some cases of first aid demand the victim's participation. The victim is, at times, given instructions on how to act.
CPR is Exclusive, Unlike First Aid, That Is Broad
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is performed exclusively on patients in cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is a fatal condition that results in sudden heart dysfunction. A patient suffering from cardiac arrest is unconscious and unable to breathe. This form of first aid applies procedures exclusive to that specified condition.
First aid can be defined as the immediate help a patient or victim receives before Emergency Medical Services arrive. First aid can take many forms as it involves different procedures depending on the victim's state. Therefore, being a field first aid certification is crucial. There are various first aid courses that individuals can take, with most institutions readily offering online first aid classes.
Person training on first aid, such as online first aid certification, covers different forms of injuries and how to handle persons with fractures. First aid online training also encompassed burns of varying degrees and how to deal with persons suffering from such to prevent pain, suffering, and further injury.
CPR Applies To More Critical Conditions
CPR is more vital as compared to some incidences of first aid. Persons suffering from cardiac arrest are legally dead. The chances of reviving a person suffering from cardiac arrest depend on time. Every minute counts; the faster the procedure begins, the higher the likelihood of the person surviving. A person who successfully receives CPR should see a medical specialist for further assessment. It applies regardless of whether the person recovers normal breathing and regular heartbeat. All the more reasons why people choose online CPR certification programs.
Some cases that demand first aid are not as critical. At times persons who receive first aid do not need to see a specialist. First aid applies to minor injuries and is successful without further medical consultation. Minor sprains, cuts, and burns are some of these examples.
CPR is Procedural
CPR employs specific procedures that skilled persons can only carry out. The steps followed during CPR are universal and attainable through. Every step followed through online CPR training is crucial and significant in saving a person's life. You can only revive the person suffering from cardiac arrest through the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) application. The AED machine is specific to cardiac arrest victims. These technical skills are easily attainable in online CPR training. Persons require training to revive cardiac arrest patients because the quality of CPR given to a victim determines the chances of survival. The steps involved in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation are also sensitive as more injury can result in patients.
First aid mostly takes different forms. There are various ways of taking care of burns, for example. First aid aims to relieve pain, suffering, and loss of life before Emergency Medical Services takes over the situation.
CPR and First Aid Have Different Objectives
CPR exclusively aims at providing an artificial heartbeat to restore blood circulation and prevent vital organs from dying. The oxygen supply is cut off in cardiac arrest patients because there is no breathing and no heartbeat. This is because body cells rely on the oxygen blood supply to stay alive. For this reason, the pulse is critical, and a person performing CPR must keep doing it until professionals attend to the victim.
First aid targets achieving different purposes. The performance of first aid depends on the state of the victim and the cause of suffering. Just like CPR, First Aid aims to save lives, but the critical objective varies. For example, in the case of an accident, first aid is preferred and performed to stop bleeding and relieve pain.
How to get CPR and First Aid Certified?
To get CPR and First Aid certified, you need to enroll in a CPR/AED First Aid Certification course from the American Heart Association training center. Many hospitals, organizations, and training centers also offer CPR, First Aid, and Basic Life Support Certification that follows the American Heart Association guidelines for Emergency Cardiovascular Care. This can be taken either online courses, blended learning, or classroom-based. After successful completion of the CPR and First Aid course, you will receive a completion card, valid for two years.
You can take CPR and First Aid training classes even if you are not a healthcare provider, childcare provider, or any job in the health care field.
Conclusion
While CPR certification focuses on helping someone experiencing cardiac arrest, first aid provides knowledge on a broad range of medical emergencies, such as cuts, fractures, and choking. Therefore, taking CPR and First Aid classes can be highly beneficial if an emergency situation arises.
There are many avenues for acquiring both skills and knowledge in CPR. Persons interested in knowledge and skills can easily enroll in online certification programs to obtain the certifications of choice. You can also review the CPR BLS meaning and test your knowledge by taking a First Aid Practice Test.
