If you’ve ever experienced that shocking moment when somebody collapses in a public space, you’ll know how helpless you can feel if you don’t know how to help. Many people know the basics of first aid including checking for a pulse but not everyone knows how to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while waiting for the professionals to arrive.
Having somebody who is CPR certified on the scene can literally mean the
difference between life and death in an emergency - but getting certified takes a lot of time, money and hassle, right ? Not any more. These days, you can get CPR certification - compliant with state regulations and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - from your home or office.
Online CPR certification allows you to fit your training in around your other responsibilities such as work and childcare commitments and is more affordable than you might think. This type of flexible learning means that you can tick all the compliance boxes without having to attend physical classes or take time off work.
Why Choose An OSHA-Compliant CPR Certification?
As an employer, the wellbeing and safety of your staff should always be front and centre and, while you can put things in place to prevent accidents and incidents, there’s not much you can do to prevent - or even predict - events such as heart attacks. According to the American Heart Association, 135 million people worldwide die as a result of cardiovascular events and, shockingly, the survival rate of a heart attack when it occurs outside of a medical environment is just 2% - 11%. Because of this, it’s vital that workplaces have somebody who has life-saving CPR skills which adhere to OSHA and state laws through
online CPR certification. Making sure that your certification is OSHA compliant is essential for a number of reasons which we’ll look at in this section:
1. Compliance with legal and workplace safety regulations
Not every workplace has easy and fast access to emergency medical professionals and so businesses must ensure that there is somebody on-site who is trained to provide immediate assistance. While any life-saving care is valuable, only OSHA-compliant certification can protect the business from possible litigation following an inspection, audit or situation where emergency care has been provided by staff who do not have the correct certification.
2. Enhanced emergency preparedness and response time
When somebody suffers a heart attack, there’s absolutely no time to waste in waiting for the professionals to arrive as every second that passes diminishes the chance of survival. A trained OHSA-compliant employee on site can begin chest compressions or use a defibrillator immediately - which can significantly improve the patient’s chances of survival.
3. Increased employee confidence and improved safety culture
Imagine going to work every day in a remote location; knowing that, in an emergency, it will take paramedics half an hour to arrive. Pretty scary, right? Knowing that there’s a CPR superhero right there in the workplace can reduce employee anxiety and create a culture in which staff take ownership of safety and wellbeing at work.
4. Reduced employer liability and legal risks
Following a medical emergency at work, an employer is likely to find themselves in the spotlight in terms of their health and safety policies and procedures. Ensuring that at least one employee has OSHA-certified CPR training can help to reduce the risk of litigation by demonstrating responsibility and adherence to guidelines.
5. Flexible training that doesn’t disrupt operations
Time is money, right? And many business owners and managers worry that getting staff trained in CPR will mean time away from work. Thankfully, this is no longer the case as flexible online learning means that staff can fit training around their schedules and work at a pace that’s comfortable for them. Online CPR certification and re-certification can be especially useful for businesses working to different shifts, in different places and across different time zones without impacting on productivity.
6. Long-term investment in workplace safety
Maintaining staff with OSHA-compliant CPR skills doesn’t just help save lives - it also helps the
reputation of your business with employees, stakeholders, clients and even the general public. By showing that your business prioritises safety, you promote an image of credibility and responsibility.
Do All Online CPR Certifications Meet The Requirements?
Unfortunately not. As you’ll no doubt be aware, the internet can be a tricky place to navigate and not everybody on there is who they seem. Because of this, you should never assume that an online provider is compliant but, instead, take the time to familiarise yourself with the numerous formats and guidelines to allow yourself to make an informed choice.
When is online CPR certification acceptable? (Blended learning model)
Valid online CPR courses follow a blended learning model - this means that learning is split between online tutorials covering theory and real life training with a qualified professional. Blended learning courses are provided by lots of organisations in the States and it’s vital to choose a course from a reputable provider in order to be assured of OSHA compliance.
When is CPR certification not accepted? (100% online-only courses)
Beware of any training that promises you can get all skilled and certified without tearing yourself away from your laptop. While a good portion of your course can be completed online, certification is only OSHA compliant if it includes real life practice and checking with a qualified instructor whether you’re a medical professional or a first aid representative at work.
How To Spot Unreliable Providers
As we’ve mentioned, there are some unscrupulous folk out there on the world-wide-web so it’s important to know how to spot a class act from a counterfeit - and here’s how.
1. Instant certification without testing or verification
This one should be an instant red flag as no reputable course would ever offer certification without both a written test and a physical demonstration of skills. For employers and licensing bodies, this type of certification isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.
2. No in-person skills evaluation mentioned
If you want to be OSHA recognised, your training absolutely positively must include real hands-on training with a qualified professional. If there is no mention of this on a website’s home page, it almost certainly will not meet the required professional standards and will not be accepted by healthcare and childcare organisations.
3. Vague or misleading affiliations
During your search, you’re likely to come across providers claiming to be “AH certified” - these should generally be avoided as accredited companies in the USA don’t allow certification through third parties. If you do choose to go down this route, always take the time to find out just what these affiliations stand for and mean.
4. No clear contact details or customer support
It should go without saying that if a provider isn’t willing to share contact details including email and office addresses, you should start to wonder what they’re hiding.
Ensuring safety through online CPR certification
Whether you’re at work, out shopping or in a restaurant, there’s a chance that somebody will suffer a medical emergency - and CPR training means that you just might be able to save a life while picking up a loaf of bread or catching up with friends. Choosing an OSHA-approved CPR certification is your ticket to gaining vital life-saving skills, improving the reputation of a business and adding another string to your bow in terms of personal achievements.
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