
Hi everyone,
It has been a while since I have written a blog. Many times individual people and businesses are not aware that they need to have cpr/aed/first aid training to meet local and state guidelines. I am biased, and feel that it shouldn’t be a local or state requirement to get trained. My belief is that it should be mandatory to be cpr/aed/first aid trained. These courses teach you how to prevent emergencies, recognize when someone is having an emergency, and how to respond to an emergency. The life saving skills taught are proven to save lives. Constant exposure and practice to providing care will boost confidence. So how do I choose the right company?
1. Scheduling
The first step is to find an emergency training school that fits your schedule. Make sure that the company actually has an instructor ready to teach your teams. Many times training schools say they are available but than flock to social media looking to find someone. It is not always a good business practice as honesty and service fulfillment is a necessity.
2. Price
The cost of training depends on a few factors. These factors include the cost to advertise your class, the cost to process your certification, the cost of equipment, insurance, payment to instructors, travel fees, office lease, etc. The market shows CPR/AED/ First aid training prices ranging from $40-126 per person. Consumers are not aware that different curriculums charge more money for their certifications to be processed, and format of their participant manuals. Buyers be aware that cheaper classes do not always necessarily provide top notch training. Sometimes they cut corners to keep the cost down. Do your homework and talk to friends, colleagues, employers, and family members.
3. Online Reviews
Online reviews are a good thing to read, but take them with a grain of salt. It is very hard to get customers to fill out surveys. Customers want to write reviews when they want to share a concern or a negative experience they had with the organization. At the end, you need to do your own homework.
4. Are their instructors certified to teach the courses that are being advertised.
Talk to any AHA, red cross, or ASHI instructor, and they will tell you that they have to teach and re-certify every 2 years to maintain their abilities to teach the public. Some organizations require online updates in addition to in-person training to keep knowledge and skills up to date.
5. Is the emergency training school licensed and insured
AHA / ASHI instructors have to be aligned with a training center in order to teach classes. The training centers usually carry professional liability insurance, while some carry general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. It all depends in how the AHA/ASHI instructors are classified.
Red Cross instructors have to be on an AP ( Authorized Provider ) or an LTP ( Licensed Training Provider) agreement to teach classes. AP’s and LTP’s are the training centers. Red cross training centers should have professional liability insurance and may carry general liability or worker’s compensation insurance.
5. Service agreements ( contracts)
A good emergency training center should be able to provide their clients a service agreement that clearly specifies the exact services being agreed too. Good service agreements offer ways out of the agreement if the consumer and the business want to party ways. They also clearly state what “they” are responsible for in regards to your training and how they will work with your team to ensure high quality training.
6. Training schools should be active consultants by informing their clients of changes in certification requirements and life-saving skills.
Self explanatory.
7. Certifications should be processed with the appropriate curriculum taken.
For example, an American Red Cross certification should have the American Red Cross Logo, the name of the participant, the name of the instructor, a certification code, and a QR code.
8. Online certifications are for knowledge and education, but do NOT meet state requirements in most states
Customers must participate in either a full day in-person class with supervision from a trained instructor or a hybrid class ( blended learning ) where half of the class is completed online and the other portion is completed in person under the supervision of a trained instructor.
For more ways to determine an appropriate training school, contact me. I want to get to know you and your teams, your training needs, and any pressing questions you may have.
Justin