As people say, you can’t put a price on a person’s life. In the same context, you can’t really put a price on the ability to save someone’s life. Whether you help an elderly reach their heart medications when they experience chest pain or perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a sudden cardiac arrest victim, being able to help save a life is beyond priceless.
Since cardiac arrest is very common among the world population, renowned health organizations like the AHA (American Heart Association) and the American Red Cross are urging civilians to learn about the benefits of first aid methods by using automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR.
If defibrillators were only intended for professional use before, today, that’s no longer the case. And thankfully, all of us can learn how to operate an AED and become knowledgeable in how to save a life.
This article discusses the distinct and overall value of AED training courses and which categories of professionals can benefit the most from the technique.
What Is at the Core of AED Training Courses?
In essence, AED courses fall under First Aid classes and revolve around teaching life-saving skills to professionals whose job requirements include operating an AED. Besides such professionals, anyone else can also attend an AED training course for their own sake.
Whether you suffer from a heart condition or have a loved one who does, then becoming trained in AED and CPR is the right thing to do.
In a nutshell, AED training courses teach individuals about what a cardiac arrest is, how to provide CPR and how to operate an automated external defibrillator. Some of the aspects the instructs will cover during an AED class include the following:
- Identifying sudden cardiac arrest (SCA);
- Learning the symptoms of an SCA an how to ensure the safety of an SCA victim;
- What precautions to take before operating an AED;
- How to describe the emergency to an emergency dispatch;
- Learning the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to perform it properly;
- Understanding the distinct resuscitation techniques like hands-only CPR and rescue breaths;
- Explaining the importance of combining CPR and AED, and more.
The Value Of AED Training Courses
By attending an AED class, you’ll be gaining more than the sheer understanding of the concept of AED use and CPR; you will become richer with precious life-saving skills. Knowing how to deliver emergency medical care is more of a necessity than an option.
When making the decision to enroll in an AED class, first, you need to understand that you are making a commitment that results in the ability to sustain a person in life.
In that context, research conducted by an international team of researchers shows that 66% of SCA victims in the U.S. and Canada survived hospital discharge after receiving an AED treatment from a bystander.
Furthermore, you will be taught the importance of AED as the go-to choice for immediate medical assistance until emergency medical teams take over. An AED instructor will explain the basic operation modes of AEDs and when to use the machine. Cases like loss of consciousness and lack of breathing clearly show the need for an AED.
On the other hand, an instructor will also explain that there are instances when AEDs should not be used, even when necessary. You might wonder why this is, and the answer is simple: if a person collapses in a pool of water or is otherwise near any water, an AED can electrocute them.
Types of AED Training Courses
Depending on the scope of the course and the different applications of AEDs, it’s only logical that there are different AED training courses. In general, you can enroll in some of the following AED courses:
- Pediatric AED training courses;
- Adult AED training courses;
- Pediatric and adult CPR/AED training courses
- AED training included in the ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) training.
Why Should You Attend AED Training Courses?
First of all, why not? Why not be able to save someone’s life in a nick of time? Why not be the person that knows how to do CPR and operate an AED to keep an SCA victim alive until medical professionals arrive?
Cardiac arrest knows no race, gender, or age, and it can happen to anyone at any place. When something like that happens, having an AED close by can mean the world to the victim. If you’re a business owner with many employees in the office, you should acquire an automated external defibrillator for the workplace and enroll your employees in an AED training class.
That way, you can rest assured should life-threatening SCAs occur, your employees can get immediate access to an AED and save a co-worker’s life.
Which Industries Can Benefit the Most From AED Courses?
Since some professions are more exposed to risks than others, AED and CPR training seems like a no-brainer. For instance, firefighters are one of the professionals that might be more vulnerable to serious health conditions, with SCAs being one of them.
Some of the common employee profiles that can benefit from AED training courses the most include the following examples:
- Sports professionals: Personal trainers, athletic trainers, fitness professionals, coaches, and others.
- Firefighters
- Construction workers
- Volunteers
- Electricians
- Child caregivers
- Flight attendants
- Security guards
- Prison staff
- Lifeguards
- Babysitters, etc.
In essence, everyone wanting to learn how and when to perform CPR and use an AED can enroll in some AED training classes. You can attend such a class in person, fully online, or through a blended-learning model.
Usually, busy individuals choose the online AED training option since they can tweak the schedule to work for them. Moreover, online AED training classes are less expensive than the in-person classes due to overhead costs.
Final Words: The Value of AED Training Courses
In today’s hectic world, none of us know when we will need help from a neighbor, a co-worker, or a stranger on the streets. With sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happening more often, we can only hope if we suffer one, there’s an AED-trained bystander to help us!
From being an emergency response method with unmatched efficiency, AEDs are genuine life savers. Anyone that wants to learn how to use an AED can find an AED training course nearby. That way, they become part of a health-conscious community of people who understand the value and importance of automated external defibrillators and how to help an SCA victim stay alive until professionals arrive.
If you’re a health worker, a firefighter, or otherwise linked to medicine, you clearly understand the importance of AED and CPR. But, everyone else is strongly advised to do their part for the benefit of society (and their own benefit!) and learn how to use automated external defibrillators and be able to keep a victim of sudden cardiac arrest alive in those life-saving seconds.
FAQs
With the rise in the awareness of AEDs and CPR, we get a lot of questions about AEDs, so let’s go over some of them.
How many times can I shock someone with an AED?
You can jolt the heart of an SCA victim as many times as needed until a normal heart rhythm is restored. However, be advised that with every unsuccessful shock, the chances of survival drop with every unsuccessful shock.
Is there an expiration date on AEDs?
No, you can use an AED for a very long time. Since it runs on batteries, you should only make sure to replace the old ones with new batteries, and you’ll be all set.
What happens when the AED reads “No shock advised”?
This can happen when the machine calculates there is no need for a shock at the moment. In such a situation, leave the electrode pads on the victim’s chest and proceed with hands-only CPR.
I have no training in AED. Can I still use one?
You can. Non-professionals can safely use an AED because the machine operates with pre-recorded guidelines that will help you apply shocks and guide you every step of the way. What’s most important is to stay calm and focused on the guidelines.
How long does an AED training course last?
Depending on the type of the AED course (adult, pediatric, combined, or ACLS), you can expect to spend anywhere from 3 to 6 hours to complete the training.