Knowing how to perform CPR can be a lifesaving skill, but maintaining your certification is just as important. Many people are unsure about how long their CPR certification remains valid after completing training. To ensure you're always prepared in an emergency, it's important to stay informed about certification timelines and renewal requirements.
In this blog, we'll explore how long CPR certification lasts and how online first aid training can help keep your skills up to date.
CPR Statistics
In the U.S. alone, 436,000 people die from cardiac arrest in a year. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), mortality rates are higher for people who experience cardiac arrests outside of the hospital. This is because these people don’t have access to timely and effective CPR. In the 2023 report on Heart Disease and Stroke, only 40.2% of out-of-hospital cases of cardiac arrest received bystander CPR.
How likely are cardiac arrests likely to happen in out-of-hospital settings? More often than you think. 73.4% of cardiac arrests in out-of-hospital settings occur at home. This is followed by public settings (16.3%) and nursing homes (10.3%). According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 10,000 cardiac arrests happen in a workplace setting.
Unfortunately, as many as half of the employees in the workplace setting cannot locate the nearest available AED. What’s more, as much as 66% of employees in the hospitality industry do not know how to perform CPR.
Did you know that effective CPR can reduce the risk of cardiac deaths by as much as 300%? As a lifesaving technique, CPR can buy time until emergency medical professionals arrive or until the individual can be transported to a hospital.
CPR certification courses give individuals the knowledge and skills needed to perform CPR correctly and confidently, making them better prepared to save a life.
What Is CPR Training?
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training teaches you how to perform chest compressions and rescue breathing on people with sudden cardiac arrests, i.e., pulseless and not breathing. Apart from chest compressions and rescue breaths, CPR training also includes training on how to use automated external defibrillators (AED) for people with cardiac arrest.
CPR training includes basic training, such as Basic Life Support (BLS), and can add on Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) is a separate ACLS training program for children and infants.
Some CPR classes may also provide first aid training. However, first-aid training is different from CPR training.
What’s the Difference Between First Aid Training and CPR Training?
First aid training teaches you how to support people in diverse emergency scenarios: choking, bleeding, poisoning, and so on. CPR training, on the other hand, is a specialized form of first aid training that teaches you how to provide emergency care to patients with sudden cardiac collapse. The good news is that some CPR classes are so versatile they allow you to add first-aid training to your course.
Where Can I Get CPR Certified?
There are various places to gain CPR certification. The American Red Cross and The American Heart Organization are popular options. They offer flexible training options like in-person, online, and blended training modules. They also have course locators that bring up available learning resources in your local area.
How Long Is CPR Training?
How long is a CPR class? There is no one answer. The length of CPR training can vary depending on the course and level of certification. For instance, the Red Cross offers various CPR courses that range from 2 hours to 5 hours long. Overall, CPR courses typically last anywhere from 3 - 12 hours. BLS courses generally take about 3 - 5 hours, while Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support lasts 12 – 16 hours and is split into 3 - 4 days.
How Long Does CPR Certification Last?
CPR certification often lasts from 2-3 years, depending on the type of training. For courses offered by the American Heart Association, BLS, ACLS, and PLS training lasts for 2 years. After two years, you are expected to take refresher courses to renew your certification. The same goes for the American Red Cross.
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References
1. American Heart Association (2024). CPR Facts and Stats
2. Tsao, C. W., Aday, A. W., Almarzooq, Z. I., Anderson, C. A., Arora, P., Avery, C. L., ... & American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. (2023). Heart disease and stroke statistics—2023 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 147(8), e93-e621
3. American Heart Association (2024). Out-of-hospital Chain of Survival
4. OSHA (2024). Saving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims in the Workplace
5. American Heart Organization (2024). Courses and Kits
6. American Red Cross (2024). Learn about Our Programs
