Find the Best Online First Aid and CPR Training Courses
Written by Staff Writer
Accidents can happen in any workplace. When they do, someone on the scene must know first aid techniques to respond quickly and helpfully. Unfortunately, following health and safety guidelines is not always intuitive. Sometimes the things we think will help can actually hurt — which is why online first aid and CPR training courses are so helpful.
At OSHA Education Center, we offer convenient online training to prepare you to seek emergency care and CPR certification. Each class is designed to help you understand the basics of emergency medical care, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). With this knowledge, you can go on to get certified so you are always prepared to help those around you when accidents occur.
Importance of Emergency Response in the Workplace
A basic education could mean the difference between life and death for you and your fellow workers. The fact that you want to learn about first-response techniques for common injuries is commendable. Even a little knowledge — if it is accurate and based on the most up-to-date standard of care — can be immensely helpful in a crisis.
First aid doesn’t require extensive medical training to administer. Just about anyone can learn to do it. You can educate yourself on how to effectively care for yourself and others after an injury.
First Aid Basics
According to OSHA, “First aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred. It often consists of a one-time, short-term treatment and requires little technology or training to administer.”
First aid includes a variety of techniques, such as cleaning cuts and scrapes, treating minor burns, dressing wounds and more.
Here is a brief summary of some of the common injuries that require first-aid intervention. Keep in mind that this is a general overview and not comprehensive. Gaining competency in these techniques requires instruction and practice.
Even if you feel confident to render aid, make sure to contact emergency medical services or other qualified medical staff for help.
A workplace accident might cause some of these dangerous conditions:
Chemical in Eye
If a chemical splashes into the eye or eyes, flush the affected eye(s) with lukewarm water for at least 20 minutes. Hold the eyelid open and use a faucet or shower to continue to flush the eye.
When you finish, wash your hands with soap and water to remove any chemical residue. Be sure to remove any contact lenses — if they did not come out already.
Unresponsive Victim
If you encounter an unresponsive victim, perform rescue breathing. If their heart has stopped beating, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Only do so if you are properly trained.
Shock
Signs of shock can include cold and clammy skin, chills, shallow breathing, nausea, confusion and a pale face. Place the individual on their back and elevate their legs until emergency services arrive. Cover them to conserve body heat. If the victim has not sustained an abdominal injury and can still swallow, you may give them non-alcoholic fluids to keep them hydrated.
Bleeding
Try to control the bleeding by applying pressure. Ideally, wear latex gloves or use a plastic bag to keep the blood from contacting your bare skin. If you cannot apply enough pressure to stop the bleeding by hand, apply a thick, clean pad or bandage over the wound and use a belt, bandage or other tie to apply pressure. Try to avoid cutting off circulation to the limb.
If you can’t use a tie, do your best to apply heavy pressure using your fingers or your hand over the packing. Elevate the injury above the level of the victim’s heart — as long as there are no broken bones or spinal injuries.
Tourniquets should only be used if the risk of losing a limb is necessary to save a life.
For more information on how to avoid bloodborne pathogens, consider taking our certificate course on the subject. You will learn how to avoid exposure and help employees do the same.
Burns and Scalds
Apply cool water to the wound, either directly or by moistening a clean cloth. Don’t use ice! It can damage the skin further. Do not attempt to remove tissue or debris from the burn site. Continue treatment until the pain stops or help arrives. Don’t break blisters or use ointments, creams or powders.
What Are CPR and AED?
The use of CPR, especially with the help of an AED, is important if you want to be effective at saving lives in emergency situations. Proper administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation helps to keep victims alive.
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency lifesaving procedure that you employ when someone’s heart stops beating. According to the American Heart Association, If performed immediately, this technique can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest.
The purpose of CPR is to keep the blood flowing through the body to oxygenate tissue and organs, especially the brain. Even partial success makes resuscitation more likely.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is performed by applying chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing at a 30:2 compression-to-breath ratio.
For those without rescue-breathing training, hands-only CPR is recommended. Simply apply chest compressions. Leave out the breathing component.
Online CPR training will teach you the appropriate application of these techniques. But keep in mind that hands-on training is necessary to earn CPR certification.
AED
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device that can significantly increase the survival odds of a victim of cardiac arrest. You have likely seen movies or television shows where someone pulls out a machine and shocks someone back to life.
In the media, these are usually full-sized crash-cart-style defibrillators, which are much more powerful than an AED but operate on similar principles.
They use electrical impulses to stimulate the body when cardiac function stops. Properly operating an AED can make CPR much easier — if you are properly trained.
Learn the Theory and Technique of First Aid Online
While some of these emergency treatments can seem simple, applying them in an emergency can be quite difficult. Emergencies overwhelm the senses, leading to panic and making it difficult to think clearly. That’s why getting a certification takes education and practical application.
We offer several courses that teach you the basics of emergency medical care in the workplace, including First Aid for Medical Emergencies, First Aid Basics and online CPR and AED Essentials. Each of these courses is designed to help you handle emergencies at work and elsewhere.
These are awareness-level online courses that provide foundational knowledge on processes and proper procedures. Earning an official certification in CPR or seeking first aid certification requires hands-on training from a certified instructor.
Our courses prepare you to act decisively in an emergency. However, you will need to demonstrate your mastery in person if you want to become certified.
Choose OSHA Education Center
We are the #1 online education course provider for workplace safety and related topics. Our courses provide the information you need to reach your education goals, but we are more than just a source of information. Our online courses fit into your busy lifestyle. We’re available whenever and wherever you are.
To make education as convenient as possible, all our courses are 100% online. That means you can:
- Access your course anytime, day or night
- Stop and start whenever you want thanks to automatic progress saving
- Set the pace of your education
- Take up to 90 days to finish your lessons
- Listen while you learn with audio narration
After you finish your course, you can instantly download your certificate of completion. The process is simple and easy from start to finish.
Get Started Today
Injuries and illnesses happen every day. The sooner you learn how to respond to a medical emergency in the workplace, the sooner you can be ready to help yourself and others.
Register now for our First Aid Basics course or any of our other classes to begin your education!