This weekend, news came out that traditional CPR, and specifically chest compressions, may be more effective than some of the more complicated techniques used in emergency rooms.
Like all good teenage babysitters, I decided CPR was a necessary and marketable skill set. So, I signed up for a summer session to get my CPR certification from the Red Cross.
We nicknamed our infant practice mannequin, “Pea-shooter,” because when you performed CPR correctly, a tiny foam pellet would come shooting out of its mouth.
At the time, the weekly training classes were fun, something to keep informed and entertained. But, now that I have a busy adult schedule, fitting in an evening or weekend class is a little more challenging.
Well, now you can get the training you need on your own schedule. The Red Cross is offering online training for CPR and Basic First Aid. You have a couple weeks to take the online course, then you set up a time to go into your local Red Cross office and perform a skill test to prove you actually know what you’re doing.
You still have to pay a fee to be certified, but your training is good for 1-3 years depending on the skill.
This post was written by jjarvis on August 24, 2009
