There are a lot of reasons you might want to receive CPR/First Aid training. Maybe someone in your family is in poor health or you have a desire to be prepared for emergency medical situations when you’re out in public.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to receive CPR/First Aid training from a reputable and accredited source. Technology has immersed itself in every aspect of our lives, and there are tons of health apps available, so you may wonder if you can get the training you need through an app.
The short answer is, yes. But the long answer is that it’s complicated. Read on to discover whether you can receive reliable CPR/First Aid training through an app.
Apps Won’t Get You Certified
You can’t get your CPR/First aid certification through an app. The reason for this is that certification requires you to take in-person classes with an accredited institution and instructor. However, if you want to have some basic knowledge of first aid and CPR practices, then there are some apps that can help you with that.
Keep in mind that if you use your training without certification, then you could be held liable if a stranger gets injured while you’re attempting to help them. Always use your best judgment and leave treating others to professionals when possible.
Red Cross First Aid App
The Red Cross has a first aid app with a wide range of information available. The app can direct you on how to treat burns, minor injuries, allergic reactions, and more. There’s also a shortcut to call 911 built into the app just in case you’re unable to handle the situation on your own.
Fat Belly First Aid
This is another app that will provide you with a lot of general knowledge for emergency medical situations. It has instructions for how to deal with minor injuries and even emergency childbirth! It’ll teach you how to do CPR correctly and direct you to handle unexpected medical situations properly.
YouTube
Of course, YouTube isn’t exactly a first aid app, but it can be a lifesaving resource in certain situations. If you have the app downloaded on your phone, then you can pull it up and find instructional videos on how to treat certain injuries. There are videos that will walk you through the steps of CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, burn treatment, splinting broken bones, and more.
YouTube is no replacement for professional medical help or advice, but it can help you out when you’re in a pinch. Always contact a medical professional for help immediately in an emergency medical situation.
Getting Certified
If you want to become officially certified, then you need to receive in-person CPR / First Aid training through an accredited source. You’ll need to attend classes on site where they teach you how to respond in emergency medical situations.
You’ll do some classroom learning and practice the skills you’re taught on dummies. In-person classes have instructors who will walk you through everything you need to know about basic first aid and CPR.
At the end of the class, you’ll receive your CPR/First Aid certification. It’s important to note that these certifications only last for 2 years, so you’ll need to renew it frequently to continue being legally certified.
How Long Does It Take?
A proper CPR/First Aid class will take you anywhere from 2.5-6 hours, depending on the course you choose. Sometimes the classes are split up over a couple of days and others allow you to complete the course all in one day.
Different instructors and institutions will have different timelines for their certification classes, so make sure you find an accredited program in your area so you can determine their timeline.
Should You Get Certified?
In a perfect world, everyone would be CPR/First Aid certified and ready to respond to emergency medical situations. If you’re planning on using your training to help others, especially the general public, then it would be in your best interest to get certified.
The reason for this is injuries can occur when you practice life-saving techniques such as CPR on someone. You can accidentally break their ribs and the person whose life you saved may not be too happy about that. This can result in expensive lawsuits and having your certification protects you from a certain degree of liability.
If you plan on using your knowledge of CPR and First Aid to treat family, friends, and only people you trust, then you don’t technically need a certification. You can learn the majority of what you need to know through apps and online courses.
However, apps and online courses won’t give you the opportunity to practice and perfect your techniques like an in-person class will. It’s best to take an in-person course and get certified whenever possible.
Final Thoughts
There are a handful of apps out there that can teach you the basics of CPR and First Aid. They don’t technically provide any training, but they will walk you through how to deal with emergency medical situations.
Online courses and apps won’t get you CPR/First Aid certified, so it’s best to take an in-person class from an accredited source whenever possible. If you want to stay certified, then make sure you retake your class every two years to stay in compliance.
