What is CPR? CPR is Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Cardio meaning anything to do with the Heart and Pulmonary meaning anything to do with the Lungs. If the heart and lungs fail, (usually failure of one leads to the failure of the other) then the individual is in the worst possible state and the only way for them to have a chance of survival is CPR. The giver of CPR artificially simulates the normal actions of the receiver’s heart and lungs, in order to keep their body functioning long enough for medical intervention.

Why is CPR different for infants, children and adults? The main difference is the physical size of the individual in need of CPR. An infant’s heart and lungs are tiny in comparison to those of an adult. If one used the same force on an infant as they would on an adult there would be a lot of trauma damage to the infant. If one used the same approach to an adult as they would to an infant their efforts would be ineffective.

How often should I refresh my first aid skills? I would advise that you revise yourself regularly by reading your manual or notes. It is generally advised that you do a refresher course at least every two years.

Why should I do a course every two years? It is one thing reading up to remind yourself of actions to take for burns, poisons etc, however, when it come to CPR you really only learn when you practice with the assistance of somebody trained to teach CPR. Another very important point to note is that every five years the International Liaison Committee On Resuscitation (ILCOR) meet and discuss the current most up to date information and experience. They conclude by issuing new guidelines for CPR. These are guidelines that the experts believe will give the receiver the best possible chance of successful resuscitation. So the details of how to give CPR tend to change every five years.

Why do I need to do a certified course? You may need a certified first aid course to prove to an employer or an association that you have taken a first aid course and it is still in date.

I do not need to prove course participation to anyone, however, I really want to know what to do in a first aid crises. Should I do the certified course? Not necessarily. You could do the full certified course if you liked. You might prefer to do one of our consultancy sessions. These are information sessions without certification that can be tailored to the specific needs of the participants.

Check out our certified courses, our consultancy options or contact us for further enquiries.