Looking for a first aid or CPR course near you?
Maybe you’ve been told you need CPR certification for work?
Or perhaps you’re deciding on a provider for on-site first aid training?
There are a lot of choices out there. One thing that’s important to bear in mind is that, when it comes to first aid training, not all CPR courses are created equal. There are a number of key differentiating factors that are worth your attention as you narrow down your options.
Let’s break down one of those factors – the importance of a good CPR course facilitator – in this edition of the First Aid 4 U Training Blog.
A Good (or Bad) Instructor Makes (or Breaks!) a CPR Course
Much like any other kind of training, effective CPR certification courses all start with the instructor or facilitator.
No matter how effective the course material might be, and despite how much the facilitator may know about the subject, attendees aren’t going to get what they need from the course if the instructor can’t effectively convey the information and skills.
Think back to high school, college or university, and the teachers or profs that still stand out for all the right or wrong reasons.
What qualities did a good teacher possess? Were they jovial? Passionate about the subject? A good communicator? Maybe all of the above?!
And what about a prof or teacher who left a lot to be desired. Why was that? Boring? Monotone? Disinterested? All that and (shudder) more?!
That’s true in first aid training and CPR certification courses as well.
It’s not enough to show up with a dummy (*ahem* referring to the CPR “patient”), a mock AED trainer kit, some PowerPoint slides and blank CPR certificates for people to fill their names in.
The CPR course facilitator should be an expert in the field, with advanced training and experience in EMT, hospitals or other sites where CPR & AED would be used. On top of that, they need to be a ”people person” who’s able to teach the material in ways that students will learn it AND remember how to react should they ever find themselves in an actual emergency situation.
How We Hire First Aid Facilitators for CPR Certification Courses
We won’t point any fingers and say there are bad courses or bad instructors out there, but at First Aid 4U, we go out of our way to hand-pick the best first aid trainers and facilitators. We look for CPR, AED and first aid knowledge, to be sure, but it goes well beyond that.
We like to hold mock first aid training sessions or trial CPR certification / CPR renewal courses for guest instructors, in order to get a good idea of what they’re able to convey and how they interact with course participants.
- A good CPR course facilitator will be able to capture & hold the audience’s interest
- He or she will make sure everyone is paying attention and absorbing the information
- Effective facilitators will use multiple methods to reach different learning styles (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.)
- They’ll make the course hands-on, interactive and fun – while keeping an underlying tone that enforces the gravity of these life-saving techniques
- Most of all, the best first aid instructors all have one thing in common: they make sure you’re going to remember how to save a life should you ever be called on to do so
You or your organization are paying good money for this CPR course, after all, and it’s not just so you or your employees can get a piece of paper.
Effective first aid training literally can help save lives. It’s that simple.
That’s why there’s no second best when it comes to CPR certification courses and first aid training. Like the TV ad says, “’Just Okay’ is NOT Okay!”
Tips for Selecting a CPR Certification / Recertification Course
As you’re doing the research and narrowing down your choice for a CPR certification, CPR renewal or other first aid training course, there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Read reviews of the CPR course and/or this company on Google, Yelp and other review sites. Make sure they’re all in the 4-star or above range. Pay close attention to what the negative reviews say, and look for patterns in the good and not-so-good feedback.
Look at the certifications, designations, affiliations and awards of the company and its instructors.
Don’t be shy. Contact the company and ask about their instructors’ experience, the selection process, etc.
Got any questions for us about First Aid 4U’s CPR certification courses or other training that we offer? Feel free to reach out.
First Aid 4U is Ontario’s leader in first aid training, including standard and emergency first and & CPR certification courses. We’re happy to answer questions and help you with your first aid training needs.
