What Is CPR Renewal, And When Do You Need It?

Knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in medical emergencies is crucial if you are a first responder or a medical professional. A CPR certificate proves your ability to restore a person’s heartbeat with chest compressions or rescue breaths.  It is a handy skill to have in a life-threatening situation. Parents, caregivers, and volunteers will also benefit from knowing how to perform CPR.

However, CPR certification expires two years after the date of issue. You can extend the certificate’s validity through CPR renewal. It also serves as an opportunity to brush up on your skills. This blog explains why you should renew your CPR certificate on time and the benefits of doing so.

Why is renewing the CPR certificate important?
A CPR certificate is an essential qualification for all medical and non-medical professionals who wish to be prepared for emergencies. However, the initial CPR certification comes with an expiration date. It is valid only for two years. This makes it obligatory for you to renew this certificate before it expires.

A valid certificate shows you are up-to-date and ready to respond in emergencies. Renewed certification also helps keep up with regular updates in CPR guidelines and techniques. Moreover, going through timely renewal becomes a necessity as CPR skill retention continues to decline.

How does renewal help those who are already CPR certified?
Many busy professionals find it difficult to renew their CPR certification every two years because of their packed schedules. They might not find the time to attend classes or prepare for the exam. When you approach renewal as a chance to learn about the evolved techniques and new procedures in CPR, it would not seem tiresome. After every renewal, you emerge more knowledgeable and confident than before.

What does the CPR renewal course cover?
The CPR renewal course contains updated guidelines and protocols for handling medical emergencies like cardiac arrest. Some of the topics covered in the CPR refresher courses include techniques for infant CPR, child CPR, and adult CPR. It also teaches you to identify the symptoms of cardiac arrest and how to use an automated external defibrillator. You will receive training from certified professionals, and the course will equip you to act confidently in any medical emergency.

Key benefits of renewing CPR certification
The benefits of renewing your CPR certification start from your commitment to medical safety to legal compliance. Here are more detailed advantages of renewing the CPR certificate:

Keeps you up-to-date:
The medical community wants to improve survival rates for drowning victims and people with sudden cardiac arrests. New research on CPR techniques is regularly being published. These findings are incorporated into CPR courses. Renewal ensures that you are aware of the updated guidelines and capable of performing effective lifesaving procedures.

Boosts confidence:
Prompt action and quick thinking are two factors that determine the success of CPR during cardiac arrest. Refresher courses are a good way to brush up on your skills so that you can intervene confidently during emergencies. 

Refreshes memory and retains your skills:
Practical skills like CPR, if not practiced regularly, can diminish over time. Refresher courses ensure skill retention and allow you to test your skills regularly. When the time comes, you are prepared to administer CPR correctly and efficiently.

Improves survival rates:
When you are CPR-certified, you are prepared to help victims of cardiac arrests in out-of-hospital settings. You can provide chest compressions and rescue breaths to get the blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until professional help arrives. Thus, you manage to improve the survival outcome of the victim. With CPR renewal, you maintain your certification and refine your ability to perform CPR during emergencies.

Fulfills workplace requirements:
Professionals in healthcare and public safety must possess a valid CPR certificate. Regular renewal ensures that you meet this job requirement. Additionally, you can add this skill to your resume for better professional recognition. It shows that you have additional skills and can offer more value to the organization.

Conclusion
With the availability of CPR courses online, it has become accessible for everyone, irrespective of their professional background, to attain CPR certification. Whether it’s time to renew your certificate for professional or personal reasons, you can complete CPR renewal online. As CPR protocols continue to evolve, taking refresher courses is a must to maintain the validity of your certificate. The renewal course prepares you to perform the latest CPR techniques to increase a victim’s chance of survival. So, complete your renewal while your certificate is still valid and keep yourself updated with the latest changes in CPR.