BLS certification is a no-brainer for those hoping to get into the medical profession. For example, doctors, nurses, dentists and nursing assistants need BLS certification. However, this lifesaving training shouldn’t just be dedicated to health care professionals. Instead, many people in other professions as well as non-working lay people can benefit from a quick class during which they learn how to provide rescue care and use an AED until emergency personnel arrive on the scene.
Who Needs BLS Certification?
The most obvious category of people who needs BLS certification outside the health care field are public servants who frequently work in physically dangerous situations. For example this training is good for police officers and firefighters.
In addition, those who work in gyms and training centers need this certification on the off chance that something would happen to one of their clients during a training or exercise session. For example, yoga, Pilates and aerobic instructors as well as personal trainers and gym owners should know how to respond in case of cardiac arrest or collapse.
Those who plan to work with very young or very old clients should also have BLS training. This could include day care workers, school teachers, nursing home volunteers and home health aides. Even if your job would not obviously benefit from a BLS class, the following advantages still hold true for other areas of your life.
Feel Confident in Critical Scenes
BLS training helps you feel confident whenever you’re in a critical situation. While emergency scenarios do not happen frequently, they usually occur where and when you would least expect them. You could use your training to help a family member at a celebration, to treat a person at the scene of a car accident or to attach an AED to someone who has suddenly become unresponsive at your local shopping center. Instead of feeling unsure of what you should do, BLS training gives you the confidence to respond quickly and correctly to life-threatening situations.
Be Better Equipped for New Jobs
Even if you’re not currently working in a job that requires BLS training, having this certification can make your resume stand out from the crowd. Your future employer will see that you value higher education and have a caring spirt that wants to help those around you. Your certification may just help you land that new job.
Be Prepared for Higher Learning
Getting your BLS certification now will make it easier for you to get further training in the future. This class is the stepping stone for future health care training. If you ever want to get into nursing or another health care field later in life, you’ll already have a solid foundation in human physiology.
Consider Heartsaver CPR AED Training
A BLS class from Project Heartbeat provides all that you’ll need to know about one and two-person CPR, AEDs, rescue breathing and advanced airways. However, another option for lay people is the less-intensive Heartsaver CPR AED class. This video-led class still allows you to practice your skills, get feedback from professionals and learn enough to perform infant, child and adult CPR, treat choking victims and learn how to use an Automated External Defibrillator. This is a great option for nursing assistants as well as for personal trainers, babysitters, child care workers and volunteers.
Knowing how to save a life can give you the confidence to respond in emergency situations. Even if you’re not doing it for your career, you can do it for your own peace of mind and for the knowledge that you’re helping fellow humans.