CPR/First Aid/AED/Rescue Diver Certifications

[Saren]

I just got certified for CPR/AED and just had questions for fellow mers with similar certs.

How often do you renew? Every year? Every time your card expires?

Is having the card important? I'm not military so I'm not allowed to be issued a cert card. But I do get a certification of completion. Just wanted your opinions.

I'm planning on getting my CPR/First Aid when I go through my rescue diver training. Has anyone had both types of training? Are there larger differences?

Just curious!

[AniaR]

I am actually a certified trainer. It is best to always have your card on you. I keep mine in my wallet. They renew differently depending on your level and course you take. In Canada it is every 3 years but as an instructor I take it yearly.

I've never heard of being trained and not being issued a card regardless of military training. That's weird!

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[nightdiver]

I'm a former trainer. I would recommend taking it when your current certification expires, or more frequently if you feel it is necessary. Over the years I've taught, I've seen a lot of changes, and keeping current is a good way to stay on top of the latest formats.

[Saren]

I'm a former trainer. I would recommend taking it when your current certification expires, or more frequently if you feel it is necessary. Over the years I've taught, I've seen a lot of changes, and keeping current is a good way to stay on top of the latest formats.

Thank you! Yes our instructor mentioned there would be new protocols soon, so I may just go ahead and renew next year.


I am actually a certified trainer. It is best to always have your card on you. I keep mine in my wallet. They renew differently depending on your level and course you take. In Canada it is every 3 years but as an instructor I take it yearly.

I've never heard of being trained and not being issued a card regardless of military training. That's weird!

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I know, I really thought I'd get a card too. But medical is the one that offers the course for free (mainly for soldiers) but dependents can take the course too. But civilians and dependents aren't allowed a card, because it's strictly military. Like it says "authorization on so and so base" and things like that.

At least I get a certificate. That way I have some proof that I did get the training.

[MermaidCelesteFL]

I'm a former lifeguard through three different companies (Ellis, NASCO, and Red Cross). All of them required some sort of recertification and in-services, but they varied between companies.

[Nerdmaid Faith]

My Standard First Aid/CPRC/ AED Responder certifications last 3 years before recertification, both of my National Lifeguard Service awards have a 2 year renewal and my WSI award needs to be renewed every 2 years.

[Mer Coralia]

So glad I found this thread (so I don't have to make one xD)

Which company did you get certified from? I'm from the US and looking at the American Red Cross (not a fan though) and American Heart Association. From my reading understanding, the material isn't much different. The AHA has a two year validation whereas ARC only has one year and from the classes I'm finding AHA is generally cheaper. However I'd like to get other's opinions and experiences/histories of certification. :)

[nightdiver]

The First Responder class my son recently completed used the American Heart Association for their CPR component.

[Slim]

I was thinking the same thing Mer Coralia.


So glad I found this thread (so I don't have to make one xD)

Which company did you get certified from? I'm from the US and looking at the American Red Cross (not a fan though) and American Heart Association. From my reading understanding, the material isn't much different. The AHA has a two year validation whereas ARC only has one year and from the classes I'm finding AHA is generally cheaper. However I'd like to get other's opinions and experiences/histories of certification. :)

[Mermaid_Izzy]

So glad I found this thread (so I don't have to make one xD)

Which company did you get certified from? I'm from the US and looking at the American Red Cross (not a fan though) and American Heart Association. From my reading understanding, the material isn't much different. The AHA has a two year validation whereas ARC only has one year and from the classes I'm finding AHA is generally cheaper. However I'd like to get other's opinions and experiences/histories of certification. :)

I personally am certified with the American Heart Association. My dad has been a CPR instructor for them for the past year or so and I have been certified through them since I was around 8 maybe (I am 15 now).

The courses are fairly easy unless you are taking them with medical providers (like I do) then you have to take a written test(it's not horrible, but it can be tricky); however, if you are just taking the class with normal people then it should be easier because you shouldn't have to take a written test.

From what I can gather, in a normal certification class, you have to demonstrate your skills at the end and if you do it right them you are past. I don't know how easygoing other instructors are, but my dad is pretty chill to everyone.

If it's not different by state (I live in VA) the fee for the card itself is around $10, but most instructors always charge more because it's involved effort and they cost of the DVD's to teach with, and the dummies to practice on, are outrageously expensive.

I hope this helped. If you have anymore specific questions about the AHA or I didn't state something clearly enough, you can ask and I can try to restate it and/or ask my dad.


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[Slim]

This is helpful


I personally am certified with the American Heart Association. My dad has been a CPR instructor for them for the past year or so and I have been certified through them since I was around 8 maybe (I am 15 now).

The courses are fairly easy unless you are taking them with medical providers (like I do) then you have to take a written test(it's not horrible, but it can be tricky); however, if you are just taking the class with normal people then it should be easier because you shouldn't have to take a written test.

From what I can gather you have to demonstrate your skills at the end and if you do it right them you are past. I don't know how easygoing other instructors are, but my dad is pretty chill to everyone.

If it's not different by state (I live in VA) the fee for the card itself is around $10, but most instructors always charge more because it's involved effort and they cost of the DVD's to teach with, and the dummies to practice on, are outrageously expensive.

I hope this helped. If you have anymore specific questions about the AHA or I didn't state something clearly enough, you can ask and I can try to restate it and/or ask my dad.


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[Mermaid_Izzy]

Oh and also adding to what I said above, you can take just the CPR course or you can take CPR and First Aid together.


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[Nerdmaid Faith]

Oh and also adding to what I said above, you can take just the CPR course or you can take CPR and First Aid together.


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All of my certifications have included CPR at various levels. The CPR C that came with my SFA is what was required to apply for lifeguarding.

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[Mermaid_Izzy]

All of my certifications have included CPR at various levels. The CPR C that came with my SFA is what was required to apply for lifeguarding.

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I don't know much about the lifeguarding side of things. My dad works more with the medical field, so that's is good information to know.


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[TidalBell]

I got a Rescue Diving certification a few years ago when I was working towards getting a Master Diver certification (don't have it yet but only because I stopped scuba diving regularly and still need like 24 more dives). We were told to renew our First Aid/Emergency First Responder training every year. I haven't kept up with it like I should and I've heard things have changed a bit since I last took a class. We did get temporary cards at the end of the class but I'm not sure that my real one ever came in the mail.
I would also like to note that different classes for different purposes seem to teach slightly different topics. Over the years I've taken a few first aid classes for babysitting class, school, and rescue diving, and while, they all went over things like cpr, abdominal thrusts, and basic first aid, my rescue diver training was much more thorough in things like checking for injuries and of course, how to take care of drowning patients.

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[Mer Coralia]

I found three with CPR through the AHA: Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED, and Heartsaver CPR AED. It's weird how hard it is to find prices but the ones I was finding were around $40-$80+. I'm interested for future professional mermaid purposes as well as for an internship over the summer that involves kids. Is it worth to do the pediatric one or should I just stick with the first one? Or is the first aid portion not worth? I know that sounds weird, but I'm not sure how much of it I really need.

It's not required for the internship and I have been CPR certified a long time ago but never renewed it. Plus there's the chance I could not get accepted so it'd just be a useful to have generally.

Why is this so unnecessarily confusing? ._. Any insight would be appreciated.

[MerEmma]

Wow, I didn't realize how much variety there really was. In January I got a certification (no card, just an emailed certificate) from the Red Cross for Adult and Pediatric CPR/First Aid/AED Training that needs renewal in 2 years. I just wanted the knowledge, no job requirement for me or anything. I think my grandma paid $100 for the course. :/

[Mermaid_Izzy]

I found three with CPR through the AHA: Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED, and Heartsaver CPR AED. It's weird how hard it is to find prices but the ones I was finding were around $40-$80+. I'm interested for future professional mermaid purposes as well as for an internship over the summer that involves kids. Is it worth to do the pediatric one or should I just stick with the first one? Or is the first aid portion not worth? I know that sounds weird, but I'm not sure how much of it I really need.

It's not required for the internship and I have been CPR certified a long time ago but never renewed it. Plus there's the chance I could not get accepted so it'd just be a useful to have generally.

Why is this so unnecessarily confusing? ._. Any insight would be appreciated.



Normally for AHA when you take a First Aid, CPR and AED training, you go over things like how to use a EpiPen and other basic First Aid skills, in the CPR portion you are normally taught about CPR on a baby,
child, and adult. The CPR part of the class is also where there AED comes in. I have never heard of CPR class taught without AED training. I'll ask my dad and try to give a better explanation later, if you'd like



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