TL;DR: CPR certification is available at various levels to meet diverse needs: Level A for adult emergencies, Level B for infants and children, Level C for comprehensive training across all ages, and Basic Life Support (BLS) for healthcare professionals. Each certification targets specific audiences and covers critical skills like chest compressions, rescue breathing, and AED use. With the CPR market expected to grow significantly, these certifications underscore the importance of being prepared to save lives in any situation, from laypersons to medical personnel.
There are different certification levels for CPR, each tailored to fit various workplace requirements. Each CPR certificate is supposed to give healthcare providers and other workers comprehensive healthcare skills. But what are the different certification levels for CPR?
The truth is they vary widely. Some certificates focus on adult resuscitation, while others extend to children and infants, ensuring you’re prepared to respond in many life-threatening situations. The CPR market worldwide is expected to grow to approximately 222 million US dollars by 2027, emphasizing the necessity of investing in these CRP certificates. Here’s more on your options and their key features.
Understanding CPR Certification
When considering becoming certified in CPR, it’s essential to know the different certification levels available to ensure you select the course that best aligns with your needs and circumstances.
CPR Level A:
CPR Level A certification is tailored for lay rescuers – those without a medical background but with a strong desire to be prepared for emergencies. Here’s a what CPR Level A courses include:
- Duration: The course typically spans 1-4 hours, depending on the chosen course.
- Assessment: At the course’s conclusion, you’ll take a test to evaluate your grasp of the material.
- Certification: Upon passing, you’ll receive a digital or eCard certification, usually valid for two years.
By choosing CPR Level A certification, you’re taking a significant step towards becoming a capable responder in adult emergencies. This skill not only enriches your personal growth but also makes you an invaluable asset to your community.
CPR Level B:
This certification emphasizes the unique needs of infants and children, providing you with the skills to perform CPR and use an AED effectively on younger individuals. Here’s what you’ll gain from this specialized training:
- Target Audience: Individuals who work with or care for children and infants.
- Skills Covered: CPR and AED specifically tailored for children, excluding adult treatment methods.
- AHA Alignment: Follows pediatric guidelines as outlined by the American Heart Association.
Opting for CPR Level B training not only equips you with vital life-saving skills but also reinforces your commitment to the welfare of children, making you a trusted and competent caregiver or professional in any child-focused environment.
CPR Level C:
CPR Level C is recommended for professionals like police officers, firefighters, lifeguards, and others who are often on the front lines of emergency response. The skills you gain here are theoretical but practical, hands-on abilities that are assessed to ensure you can act decisively and effectively.
- Target Audience: First responders and those in high-risk environments.
- Skills Covered: Comprehensive CPR skills and theory for all ages, including techniques for two-rescuer scenarios.
- AHA Alignment: Meets the broad training standards for CPR by the American Heart Association.
By achieving CPR Level C certification, you’re not just learning to save lives but committing to a level of preparedness that spans across all age groups, from infants to the elderly.
Basic Life Support (BLS):
The BLS curriculum aligns with the AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC, reflecting the latest evidence-based practices for resuscitation. Your training will be comprehensive, covering the technical skills and the critical thinking and problem-solving abilities needed in emergencies.
- Target Audience: Healthcare providers and medical personnel.
- Skills Covered: Advanced life support skills, including CPR/AED for healthcare settings.
- AHA Alignment: In-depth training that adheres to the rigorous standards of the American Heart Association.
Each course is designed for a specific audience, from healthcare providers to fitness trainers and babysitters, ensuring you can find a CPR certification that fits your role and responsibilities.
CPR Level A: Basic Training for Adults
If this is the first time you have shown interest in CPR training, starting with CPR Level A certification is a recommended option, especially if you want to be able to help adults in emergencies in low-risk environments. This foundational level includes the following:
- Identification and Action: You’ll learn to recognize the symptoms of cardiac arrest and respond effectively. This includes understanding the urgency of calling 911 and providing immediate care.
- Core Techniques: The course covers the essential techniques of adult CPR. You’ll practice chest compressions and rescue breathing, the two critical components that can sustain life until professional help arrives.
- AED Proficiency: Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are lifesavers in cardiac events. Your training will include how to use an AED, which can drastically improve survival rates when used promptly and correctly.
It’s important to note that CPR Level A does not cover treatment methods for children and infants. This is the domain of CPR Level B certification.
CPR Level B: Training Focused on Infants and Children
When you’re responsible for the safety of children, whether as a babysitter, nanny, or in any other capacity, CPR Level B certification ensures you’re prepared for pediatric emergencies.
The course includes practicing hand placement, depth, and speed of chest compressions on a manikin for one-rescuer CPR, preparing you for real-life scenarios.
Techniques for clearing an obstructed airway in a conscious child or infant are covered, with additional considerations for exceptional cases like pregnant women and obese individuals.
You will also be given instructions on using AEDs on children, which is crucial since the procedure and equipment differ from those used for adults. The importance of early defibrillation and its role in increasing survival rates in young patients must be emphasized.
This course supplements CPR Level A, focusing exclusively on younger individuals and not including adult treatment methods. However, no prerequisites are needed to embark on this training.
CPR Level C: Comprehensive Training for All Ages
You’ll master one-rescuer and two-rescuer CPR techniques for adults, children, and infants, ensuring you’re prepared for any situation. The course covers how to treat both conscious and unconscious individuals with obstructed airways, a skill that could be pivotal in saving a life.
Emphasizing the lifesaving potential of early defibrillation, you’ll learn the intricacies of using an AED across different age groups. Your training will equip you with the confidence to use an AED during those critical moments following a cardiac event.
Upon successful completion, you’ll receive a certification that’s valid for 24 months. After this period, you can recertify through our CPR A, B, and C-level courses, designed to keep your skills up to date and ensure you’re always prepared to respond in an emergency.
Basic Life Support (BLS): Advanced CPR Skills
As you advance in your CPR training, the Basic Life Support (BLS) certification by the American Heart Association (AHA) is an essential qualification for healthcare professionals and first responders. This course enhances your ability to provide care in more dangerous situations. Here’s what you’ll learn in a BLS course:
- CPR skills for adults, children, and infants which allow you to respond to cardiac emergencies across all age groups.
- Proper AED usage, including setup and operation, to deliver potentially life-saving defibrillation.
- Techniques for effective ventilations without advanced airway equipment, crucial for maintaining oxygenation.
- Team dynamics in multi-rescuer resuscitation efforts, emphasizing clear communication and role distribution.
- Choking relief methods for patients of all ages, including back slaps and abdominal thrusts.
BLS certification is more than just a thing you need to cross off a list when seeking employment. It’s proof of your commitment to saving lives. It meets the education and competency verification requirements for healthcare professionals in various settings, from pre-hospital to post-acute care.
Final Thoughts – What Do These Levels Mean for You?
By learning what are the different certification levels for CPR, you can decide which is best for you, get it, and contribute to a community that values safety and the preservation of life.CPR Certification Birmingham offers top-level CPR classes using an AHA program. With us, you have a choice of training in Basic Life Support (BLS), Healthcare Provider Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Check our website and contact us today to get the certificate you need!