CPR Instructor Qualifications
Becoming a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) instructor is fairly easy and can provide a lifetime of enjoyment. Instructors can teach CPR to community groups, companies and individuals who can then use those skills to save someone's life.
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Facts
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The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that 350,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest each year. Of that group, approximately 166,000 people die from those incidents every year. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, taught by trained instructors can help increase the use of bystander CPR and boost the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrests.
Function
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CPR instructors, once approved to teach, lead classes of various sizes and skill levels following guidelines set out by the agencies organizing the programs, such as the American Heart Association (AHA). Classes are limited by a student-to-instructor ratio set by each organization. Instructors are responsible for setting up a learning area, providing the appropriate training manikins and supplies, ensuring that the proper audiovisual equipment is available, and ultimately training the class. The instructor tests each student for an acceptable level of skills. And when done, the instructor ensures all equipment is cleaned and disinfected before being used again.
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Types
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Although basic CPR skills are virtually the same, each training organization has slightly different programs to train instructors, who then provide user-level classes. Potential CPR instructors will have to align themselves with an approved training center connected with a firm such as the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the American Safety and Health Institute. The potential candidate then goes through an approved training program to become an instructor. The American Red Cross requires instructor candidates to be a minimum of 17 years old, while the American Heart Association allows those 16 or over to take the instructor class.
Time Frame
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Before starting, the candidate must be certified in CPR techniques. From there, the length of the program depends on the organization. For instance, the American Red Cross training program lasts 24 hours. According to Less Stress Instructional Services, a New Jersey-based training center, to become an AHA trainer, the student must complete a core instructor course online or on a CD-ROM, followed by a daylong class session. Once those parts are complete, a student is observed teaching a sample class before being cleared to train students on his own.
Considerations
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Cost is a major consideration when choosing a CPR instructor program. As examples, the South Plains Regional Chapter of the American Red Cross in Lubbock, Texas, charges $225 for a CPR instructor class, while Less Stress Instructional, an AHA training center, charges $125 for the CPR instructor program.
Benefits
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The benefits of becoming a CPR instructor are varied and depend on the individual. For some, teaching CPR and first aid classes can be a second line of income or a new career. For others, teaching CPR for low or no cost becomes a way to give back to the community.
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