When we think of CPR and resuscitation, we often imagine a scenario in which someone collapses and emergency workers rush in to help. In these situations, we often don’t think of ourselves as the one who is performing CPR, the one to save a life. We think that this will be a medical professional or a law enforcement officer.
But the truth is, there are many occupations and life situations where we need to be CPR certified, and some of them are jobs that you wouldn’t expect. CPR and first aid skills are becoming some of the most essential skills to have in a job–not necessarily to advance your career, but simply to be a conscientious employee.
Without further ado, here are job roles where we need to know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
People Who Need CPR Certification
1. Doctors
This is who we expect to be taking care of CPR to save lives. We think of being in the Emergency Room and someone starts to code and doctors rush around yelling that the patient is coding and they need a defibrillation stat. And, yes, these people do need to know CPR skills. But they’re not the only ones.
2. Nurses and nursing assistants
Nurses and caregivers are also medical professionals, but in this case, we’re thinking of nurses and nursing assistants who are outside of a hospital. Perhaps a home care nurse, or a hospice nurse. These people also need to know CPR in case of an emergency.
3. Caregivers
This isn’t even necessarily a job. It may be that you’re the caregiver for your aging parent, or you may be the caregiver for a child with special needs. Even though this would not be on-the-job training, getting an online CPR certification is a good idea.
4. Emergency responders
Another obvious one. Any emergency responder, from EMT to firefighter to police officer has a responsibility to address an emergency situation and perform CPR.
5. Fitness trainers and instructors
You may not think that fitness trainers need this knowledge because they’re always in gyms with people who are ostensibly healthy. But there are a LOT of cardiac arrests and emergencies that take place in gyms, either from people who are working out too hard or from freak accidents.
6. Childcare workers
Childcare workers need CPR certification and be up-to-date on CPR certification renewal because children can have emergencies at any time. This can be a fall on the playground where they hit their head, a medical issue that they may be unaware of, or a food allergy that stops their breathing. Childcare workers definitely need CPR knowledge.
7. Transportation staff
This goes for any kind of transportation staff, from bus drivers to train conductors to even Uber and Lyft drivers. Any time you’re being transported, there could be an accident that could stop the heart and stop breathing. Learning CPR from a CPR class could save the life of your passenger.
8. Security staff and guards
Whether we’re talking about the security guards who work in a business, or the security guards who work in correctional facilities, security staff, and guards hold the same responsibilities to know CPR requirements as emergency professionals.
9. Coaches and personal trainers
It seems like every season of every sport we see a player go down, either from an impact or a cardiac arrest, and that player will need chest compressions and emergency breathing.
10. Construction workers
Construction is one of the most dangerous fields in the United States, where workplace accidents from slip-and-falls or falling debris or heat exhaustion can force construction workers into a CPR skills test.
11. Flight attendants
Flight attendants do much more than bring you drinks and cookies. They are essentially the emergency personnel during the hours that you’re stuck in a plane. There are no EMTs to call when you’re flying over the ocean, so it’s up to the flight attendants to handle CPR and use the automated external defibrillator.
Lifeguards
This is a no-brainer. Performing CPR and resuscitating people is a lifeguard’s number one priority. This is why they have to have their online CPR renewal courses or in-person training, routinely without fail.
13. Nannies and babysitters
Nannies and babysitters are in a situation similar to parents, where they are the primary caregiver for children. It is incumbent that if you are a nanny or a babysitter you are getting your CPR certification every two years.