Importance of Lifesaving Trio: CPR, AED, and First Aid Training

When you see someone collapse suddenly, as a bystander, you should take immediate action without delay. You can save the person from this life-threatening situation only if you can confidently facilitate the lifesaving trio, which is first aid, CPR, and AED.

Emergency skills, such as AED, CPR, and first aid, are truly life-saving. The combined skill set is essential for individuals to handle cardiac emergencies effectively. The interplay between the trio develops a chain of survival, where success is determined by how well rescuers perform these techniques when every second counts.

In this blog, you will learn about the life-saving trio: first aid, CPR, and AED, the importance of being trained, and how they work synergistically to increase the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims.

First Aid

First aid is the immediate care given to the victims of an average illness or injury, to life-threatening traumatic injuries, and cardiac arrest. The main goal of first aid is to stabilize the patient’s condition, prevent future complications, and facilitate advanced treatment and care. The required skills for providing first aid treatment to a victim are airway management, bleeding control, and shock management.

The first aid treatment is the broader aspect of emergency care, which involves the following key functions:

1. Bleeding Control: Stop bleeding by pressing on the wound, raising the injured part, and using bandages or a tourniquet if needed.
2. Managing Fractures: Prevent broken bones from moving with a splint or support to avoid more injury and lessen pain.
3. Dressing and Bandage Application: Cover wounds with clean bandages to protect them, stop bleeding, and prevent infection.
4. Remedies for Common Injuries: Treat small burns, sprains, and cuts to reduce pain and prevent the injury from getting worse.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

CPR is the lifesaving skill that can double or even triple the chances of survival. Its main goal is to keep the person alive until professional medical help arrives or return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). It includes administering chest compressions and rescue breaths in the ratio of 30:2 to keep the oxygenated blood flowing to the vital organs. However, the techniques for compressions and rescue breathing vary for CPR in an adult, a child, or an infant due to the differences in chest size and physiology.

CPR certification benefits everyone, not just healthcare providers. Many training centers under the AHA provide basic CPR training that combines the AED course and first aid, which is for the general public or bystanders. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), there are over 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the US each year. This highlights the importance of CPR certification, particularly bystander CPR.

Also read: Importance of CPR and First Aid training

The major CPR certification includes the 3 levels:

1. Basic Life Support (BLS)

BLS certification includes high-quality CPR training, both pediatric and adult, AED usage, airway management, effective teamwork and communication, and proper use of medical equipment like Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) during rescue breaths. Anyone can take the BLS certification for emergency preparedness. However, it is a legal requirement for health professionals.

2. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

PALS certification is designed for health professionals who are involved in the advanced and critical medical care of pediatric patients. They must have completed their BLS certification to take this course. It includes high-quality child and infant CPR, airway management, the use of emergency equipment like AEDs, BMV masks, and effective team dynamics.

3. Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)

ACLS certification is the advanced level of CPR certification, which adds to the fundamental high-quality CPR. It includes techniques like airway management, medications, AED and BMV usage, ECG interpretation, treatment of specific cardiovascular emergencies like stroke algorithm, acute coronary syndromes (ACS) algorithm, teamwork, and communication. It also requires health professionals to be certified in BLS.

Related blog: If I Have an ACLS Certification, Do I Need a BLS Certification?

Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a portable, user-friendly medical device designed to analyze the heart’s rhythm and deliver an electric shock if necessary. It helps to restore the normal heartbeat when a person’s heart stops beating. The survival chances may be reduced by 7-10% with every minute delay in defibrillation. AED training guides learners about the proper way to use an AED during cardiac emergencies to increase the effectiveness of resuscitation efforts.

Here is how AED makes a significant difference in the chance of survival of the patient:

1. Restart the Heart: An AED delivers a shock to correct dangerous rhythms like ventricular fibrillation, restoring a normal heartbeat.
2. Combined Effort With CPR: While CPR keeps oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs, only an AED can restart the heart. Their interplay is vital for effective resuscitation.
3. Designed for Everyone to Use: AEDs are designed with voice and visual prompts, so even untrained bystanders can use them confidently.
4. Significant Increase in Survival Rates: Early AED use can nearly double the survival chances, especially when combined with immediate CPR.

Helpful blog: The Role of Defibrillation in Treating Shockable Rhythms

Importance of Learning Lifesaving Trio: CPR, AED, and First Aid

When you are trained and get certified in all three emergency skills, ie, CPR, AED, and first aid, you can take quick action in life-threatening emergencies that can potentially save lives. These emergency safety course certification programs are not just legal requirements, but they are essential for everyone as a part of a society, where people live together and genuinely care for one another. The certification is valid for 2 years, so you are required to renew it before it expires to avoid retaking the initial course and stay compliant with your role.

Here are the key importance of learning the life-saving trio: CPR, AED, and first aid:

1. Prepares For Unexpected Emergencies

Cardiac emergencies occur without warning. Whether you are at home, office, in gym classes, or on the street, just going somewhere, you never know when you are going to be threatened by a sudden cardiac arrest. Survival from such an unpredictable crisis is possible only when we are prepared to handle it effectively.

First aid, AED, and CPR training equips you with the emergency skills like controlling bleeding, managing minor injuries and illness, chest compressions, and rescue breaths for manually continuing the oxygenated blood flow, and an AED for restoring the heart rhythm. Altogether, this life-saving trio facilitates the chain of survival for cardiac arrest victims.

2. Reduce the Risk of Permanent Brain Damage

When a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), permanent brain damage begins within 4 – 6 minutes, resulting from the lack of oxygen. Brain injury is one of the biggest dangers, and that’s why the immediate rescue action is to prevent it by maintaining the oxygen flow to the brain. For this, rescuers should avoid blood loss and immediately perform chest compressions and rescue breaths to ensure the circulation of oxygenated blood to vital organs, especially the brain.

It is crucial to administer an AED as soon as possible to restart the heart. Hence, if you are well-trained in these emergency skills, you can take quick action confidently when seconds matter.

3. Build Confidence and Readiness to Act

CPR, AED, and first aid training aim to equip you with the readiness and confidence to take effective action in critical moments. You don’t have to be from a medical background to learn CPR, AED, or first aid. Being certified benefits everyone by providing hands-on training to handle real emergencies in any setting confidently. Since most cardiac arrest cases occur out of hospitals, learning these life-saving skills is essential for everyone.

Due to a lack of proper training, bystanders fear or hesitate to act due to different myths, especially related to CPR. The comprehensive training programs take away the fear by guiding you with comprehensive hands-on practice and assessments using CPR manikins that boost your confidence and readiness to act in real emergencies without hesitation.

You May Also Read: What is the Purpose of Good Samaritan Law?

4. Enhance Family and Community Safety

When more people know lifesaving skills, the whole community feels safe. Be it at your own home or outside, like a workplace, fitness center, schools, or in any kind of social gatherings, knowing people around you are well-trained in first aid, CPR, and AED will give you a sense of safety wherever you go.

Physically demanding emergency resuscitation, like chest compressions, requires more than one person for increased effectiveness. More trained individuals facilitate switching rescuers’ positions during CPR in cardiac emergencies in public settings. Your knowledge and skills don’t just protect your loved ones; they strengthen the security for everyone around you at the community level.

5. Requirement for Professional Compliance

In professions related to healthcare, education, construction, fitness, and childcare, being trained in CPR, AED, and first aid is not just recommended but is required by law or workplace safety standards. The life-saving skills training programs help organizations remain compliant with regulations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), while also protecting their employees and anyone within their circle.

If you are looking for a job within the caregiving settings, including your valid first aid, AED, or CPR certifications in your resume, makes you stand out among the candidates and secures your job placement. Hence, being certified not only increases job opportunities but it highlights your commitment to safety.

Are CPR, First Aid, and AED the Same Certification?

CPR, First Aid, and AED are not the same certification, although many training providers have combined them in a single course for convenience. They cover different skill sets used in different emergencies.

Here is the comparison between these three certifications:

Save Lives With Lifesaving Trio Skills!

CPR, AED, and first aid are the lifesaving trio that builds a chain of survival for a cardiac arrest victim. Being certified in these emergency skills boosts your emergency preparedness in any setting and makes you an important link in the chain. These skills are not just for fulfilling the requirements, but being actively involved in the safety of people around you.

CPR, AED, or first aid training is not a one-time learning session, nor any casual learning experience. These training programs are linked with community health and safety. Regular practice and skills refreshment are crucial parts of these training classes. By learning these lifesaving skills and staying compliant with the latest evidence-based protocols, you gain the confidence and ability to act confidently in real cardiac emergencies.

Looking for a trusted training provider? Trust Heart Start CPR and enroll at our location near you. We offer AHA-certified first aid, CPR, and AED courses, led by our experts in flexible timelines and formats. Contact or visit us today!

FAQs Related to CPR, AED, and First Aid

1. Who Should Take First Aid, AED, and CPR Training?

Everyone should take first aid, AED, and CPR training, whether they are a parent, teacher, fitness instructor, coach, firefighter, community volunteer, or health professional, like a nurse, emergency caregiver, doctor, or specialist. Emergencies can occur in any setting without warning. That’s why having more people trained in these lifesaving skills boosts the emergency preparedness at the community level.

2. Do I Require Medical Training to Use an AED?

No, you don’t require medical training to use an AED. These machines are user-friendly with a simple step-by-step guide with voice instructions. However, taking AED training will definitely help you feel more confident in using it in emergencies.

3. How Long Does it Take to Get Certified?

Certifications like CPR, AED, and first aid just take a few hours. So, you can get your AHA card on the same day after the course completion. You can choose from different flexible options like online course, in-person, or blended format (in-person and online) according to your convenience.

4. How Often do I Need to Renew my Certification?

The first aid, AED, and CPR certifications from reputable organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Red Cross (ARC) usually have a validity of 2 years. So, you need to renew your certification before the date of expiration. Otherwise, you will have to retake the initial course.

5. Should You Start CPR or AED First?

In most cases of cardiac arrest, CPR is performed before using an AED to prevent wasting even a second waiting for the AED. But if it’s instantly available, use it by following voice instructions. Which to start first totally depends on the availability of an AED.