In-house CPR training may seem like the most convenient option for ensuring your employees meet CPR compliance requirements, but it has its share of challenges. When you do all your training in-house, not only do you need to bring in yet another employee, but you also end up dealing with added logistical hassles of paperwork and scheduling.
Many corporate CPR programs fail to provide adequate training because of scheduling conflicts, insufficient instruction methods, disorganized record-keeping, or all of the above. With the right blend of online and in-person training, you can eliminate these headaches and increase efficiency without having to add new staff members to the equation.
Overhauling the CPR training program may not be feasible for every workplace — at least, not immediately. But with the right adjustments, you can still bring many of the benefits of blended training to your in-house CPR training program.
Read on to learn how a CPR online certification program with blended online and in-person training can help you simplify and strengthen your in-house CPR training program for maximum effectiveness.
Hallmarks of an Effective In-House CPR Program
Getting your employees trained and certified to administer CPR is about more than just letting them earn a certification card — it’s about helping them apply their skills and knowledge to save lives in a crisis.
As such, an effective CPR training program is easily accessible to all employees and ensures they receive not just the necessary skills but also the confidence and willingness to apply those skills when the need arises.
A recent study found that hands-on training significantly increased participants’ self-confidence in administering CPR in general. Along with that confidence, participants also indicated increased willingness to perform CPR on a stranger.
Furthermore, effective training goes beyond a one-time certification. Skills of any kind must be practiced and regularly refreshed so they aren’t forgotten. A solid in-house training program, then, should include regular updates and reminders to help employees retain the skills they’ve learned.
Common CPR Training Shortcomings
One factor that hinders the effectiveness of many in-house CPR training programs — especially in the case of dispersed teams — is the difficulty of coordinating employee schedules. If everyone is required to train at the same place and time, some employees are likely to fall through the cracks.
This scheduling issue can become even more complex when combined with the need for a qualified instructor whose availability may not match that of the employees.
Another common problem lies in the way CPR is often taught, particularly in corporate environments. Research shows that a traditional classroom setting simply isn’t the most effective environment for AED and CPR training. If the learning environment isn’t conducive to learning in the first place, employees may not be fully equipped to handle emergencies.
Finally, keeping track of employees’ certifications is an administrative nightmare. HR professionals can easily become overwhelmed while trying to organize paperwork and stay on top of which employees have completed which training and when each certification needs to be renewed.
Simplify & Strengthen Your CPR Training Program
If you already have an in-house CPR training program, but it isn’t as effective or organized as it needs to be, there are a few measures you can take to improve the program and better equip your employees to handle emergencies.
First, simplify your CPR training by prioritizing flexibility. There are several ways to structure your program with flexibility in mind:
- Fully in-person: While a traditional classroom setting may not be ideal, you can enhance your in-person training by expanding your base of certified instructors who are already familiar with your organization and employees’ specific needs. This is a great way to ensure your employees have close access to qualified instruction.
- Fully online: A CPR online certification program allows employees to learn on their own time and in whatever environment is most conducive to their learning. This not only prevents scheduling snags but also helps ensure each employee gets the most out of their training.
- Blended online and in-person: A blended program allows you to tailor your CPR training to your organization’s bandwidth and resources. Supplement in-house training with virtual skills assessments or in-person assessment with online training and educational resources — or whatever combination makes the most sense.
Next, rely on technology to alleviate the paperwork burden. An online platform like ProTrainings can automate a fully online training program or plug directly into your own SCORM-compliant learning management system so employees can access their training and certification information easily.
By tracking employee training statuses online and setting up automatic notifications, you’re able to see at a glance what areas of the CPR training program are running smoothly and which need improvement.
Finally, emphasize the importance of regularly refreshing CPR skills so employees are always ready and confident to administer emergency care.
Empower Your Workforce
The most effective CPR training programs are designed with the understanding that life-saving skills should be accompanied by the confidence to apply them. If your CPR program is disorganized, is not readily accessible to all employees, or focuses more on one-time certification than on effective teaching, it will continue to fall short of its goal.
However, with flexible, accessible, empowering training and organized record-keeping, your CPR training program can truly save lives.
Contact us today to learn how ProTrainings’ CPR online certification program and blended training options can help make getting your staff CPR certified easier and more efficient.