Over the years, we’ve observed an ironic — and tragic — trend among people who reach out to us about CPR training. Far too many organizations wait to implement group training until after an incident occurs in the workplace. While late is certainly better than never, it’s important to be proactive about it so that your organization can address any emergency responsibly and as successfully as possible.
Tragedy can strike anywhere and at any time. In fact, many cardiac arrest incidents happen to those we assume are in peak physical condition. Thus, the best thing you can do to ensure the safety of your team members and your populations is ensure your staff has as much training and resources as possible to help them respond to emergencies — before those emergencies occur.
Read on to learn more about why people tend to put off CPR training until it’s too late, and how to start building your training program today.
Why Organizations Put off CPR Training
There are many reasons businesses fail to implement emergency training until after an incident occurs, many of which boil down to a lack of time, resources, or dedicated personnel. Here are some of the most common reasons we’ve heard from companies:
Scheduling Is too Complicated
Getting your entire workforce CPR trained can be difficult to coordinate, especially if you have dispersed or remote teams. Many people miss out on CPR training simply because it’s too much of a hassle to fit the classes into their already hectic schedules or they aren’t available to attend training at the same time as the rest of their colleagues.
The good news is that CPR training doesn’t have to be a scheduling nightmare. Flexible training options like blended online and in-person training allow employees to get trained and certified at whatever time is most convenient and conducive to their learning.
No One Is Available to Lead the Program
For businesses that are short-staffed and strapped for time, adding a CPR training program to the mix can seem overwhelming. Someone has to take the lead on scheduling, instructing or hiring instructors, following up with employees, and tracking certifications. It’s a lot of responsibility for one person — especially if that person has a lot on their plate already.
Outsourcing your CPR training to a third-party provider can help, as can setting up automated systems for storing information and tracking certifications online. The easier and more efficient it is to coordinate training and keep track of everyone’s information, the less of a burden it becomes to head up the CPR training program.
Everyone Assumes Someone Else Is Prepared
Just like many bystanders hesitate to take action in an emergency because they assume someone else will help, many employees may not pursue CPR training because they assume someone else in the organization is capable and/or trained to handle emergencies.
The problem with this thinking, of course, is that if everyone assumes it’s someone else’s responsibility to be CPR trained, no one bothers to get trained themselves. Additionally, if only a few people in the organization are trained in CPR, what happens if none of them are present or able to step in when an emergency occurs?
Instead of placing all the responsibility on a few people, encourage every team member to undergo CPR training. That way, you can be confident that you’ll always have someone on hand with the knowledge and ability to handle emergency situations.
CPR Training Isn’t Required
While many businesses and organizations are required by law to have their staff CPR certified, many others are not. Unfortunately, when CPR training is not required, it often falls to the bottom of the priority list or gets overlooked entirely.
Further, if the workplace has yet to experience an emergency, people may view CPR training as an extra precaution instead of a necessity. But when disaster eventually strikes, nothing is more urgent than saving lives.
If an organization is not legally required to provide CPR training, it falls to the organization’s leadership to set an example and encourage their staff to get trained, as well. The more businesses and organizations prioritize CPR training even when it’s not required, the more common the expectation of CPR training will become — and the more lives will be saved.
How to Implement CPR Training Now
If you have yet to implement a CPR training program for your organization, now is the time to do it. Whether you outsource the training to a third-party provider or build your own in-house program, any investment you make into CPR training is an investment into the safety of everyone who enters your workplace.
Building Your Group Training Program
When building your CPR training program, it’s best to offer as much flexibility as possible. Providing team members with options for in-person, online, and blended training helps ensure the training is accessible to everyone, no matter their location or schedule.
If you’re building your program in-house, you’ll need to hire or train a team member to be your dedicated CPR instructor and/or skill evaluator. If not, you’ll want to choose a third-party CPR training provider with qualified instructors to train your staff either on site or online.
Finally, you’ll need to purchase or rent training equipment, including at least one manikin for every three students.
Creating SOPs & Emergency Response Plans
Another way to equip your workplace and staff to handle emergencies is to establish plans and procedures for what to do in a crisis. These include:
- Emergency response plans. Detailed instructions for responding to scenarios such as medical emergencies, natural disasters, and workplace accidents.
- CPR posters and first aid kits. Easily accessible resources to aid staff in providing lifesaving aid to emergency victims.
- Emergency drills. Regular practice to help team members feel confident and knowledgeable in handling crises effectively.
Remember, the more preparation and resources your staff have, the quicker and more effectively they’ll be able to respond, even under intense pressure.
The Time for CPR Training Is Now
Too often, people only think about getting trained in CPR after an incident occurs, but CPR and first aid training should never be an afterthought. By prioritizing CPR and emergency response planning now, you’ll reduce the risk of emergencies happening in the first place as well as prepare your team to handle them when they do.
Don’t wait until after an emergency occurs to implement CPR training for your organization. Contact us today to learn more about group training options and get started equipping your staff to save lives — before the need arises.