Overseeing a group CPR training program is a lot for one person to handle, but many organizations only have one person in charge of running the program, tracking certifications, and conducting classes. A big problem emerges when that person leaves the organization and someone else needs to pick up where they left off.
If your CPR program isn’t set up to outlast the team member who runs it, losing that person can cause delays or even gaps in employees’ CPR training while you onboard their replacements. But with the right systems and training structure, you can create a CPR program that serves your organization well, both now and in the future.
Here are four ways to keep your group CPR training program running smoothly and effectively, even if the team member in charge leaves.
Write Clear SOPs
When the person who manages your group CPR training program leaves and someone else takes their place, you want the transition to be as smooth as possible for everyone involved. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to write clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) ahead of time.
Effective SOPs ensure everyone knows what should be done when. They include simple step-by-step instructions for important processes that anyone — even someone with little to no prior knowledge — can follow successfully.
Not only do SOPs make it easy for a new CPR program director to pick up right where the old one left off and prevent important information from getting lost in the transition, but they also help the program run smoothly and efficiently even when you aren’t undergoing changes in personnel.
Distribute Responsibility
If you only have one person in charge of your group CPR training program, the transition when they leave the organization will be much more difficult than if you assign ownership of the program to multiple employees at once. Not only do you have to train someone to take their place, but you also have to ensure nothing gets forgotten or misplaced in the process.
When possible, it’s much better to appoint multiple people to oversee the program. For example, you might designate one person as the main employee in charge, and another to serve as their deputy of sorts. This way, you aren’t left scrambling to train a new program head from scratch when one of those people leaves.
Additionally, be sure to state in the job description whether the role includes running the in-house group CPR training program. Doing so eliminates confusion about each person’s responsibility and ensures the person in charge of running the program will make it a priority.
Track Certifications Digitally
Tracking certifications is an essential part of keeping your staff up-to-date on their CPR training. But what happens when the person in charge of tracking those certifications leaves? If you can’t find or can’t understand their spreadsheet (or worse, you’re left trying to sift through physical paperwork because there was no spreadsheet), you’re in trouble.
That’s why the ProTrainings group CPR training dashboard tracks all team members’ certifications in one online location. Any team member you choose can access all the information they need, without having to transfer digital or physical files.
Unlike traditional in-person instruction, online training and certification doesn’t come to a standstill if you don’t have someone physically present to oversee it at all times. As such, storing certifications and training data online prevents information from getting lost if you have a sudden vacancy that takes longer than expected to fill.
Rethink Classroom Learning
Effective group CPR training doesn’t only happen in a classroom. In fact, studies have shown that blended training programs through online platforms are just as effective — if not more so — in training people to perform CPR.
At ProTrainings, we offer three options for instructor certification so your organization can have high-quality skills evaluations without using a traditional classroom model:
- Designate an instructor who is already certified. If you already have a certified CPR instructor on your team, we can set them up in your online system for more convenience.
- Train and certify one of your team members. If you don’t have a certified instructor yet, we can train one of your existing team members to be a certified in-house CPR instructor and skills evaluator.
- Get live evaluations from a ProTrainings instructor. With our BlendedPlus option, your team can complete group CPR training remotely and their life skills evaluations over video conference with a certified instructor.
No matter which option you choose, you can be confident that you’ll still have quality instruction and skills evaluations available, even if your main instructor or CPR program director moves on from the organization.
A Group CPR Training Program That Lasts
To ensure the longevity of your CPR program, you need a system that can securely store information and transfer easily from one staff member to another when someone leaves the organization.
By implementing effective SOPs, designating multiple people to run the program, using a secure online system that’s also easy for appointed team members to access, and rethinking your training structure, you can set your CPR program up for long-term success.
Contact us today to learn more about our group CPR training programs.