Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are all trained in CPR. Your doctor wouldn’t be worth much if they weren’t versed in this crucial life-saving procedure. But in today’s world, the need for effective and professional CPR certification, which can now even be done online, is more vital than ever. CPR training should not be reserved for just medical professionals. For many other careers, CPR training and certification is not only recommended but required. Some of these careers that require CPR training may surprise you, and it’s important to understand these requirements if you’re interested in pursuing any of these professions. Luckily, receiving CPR training is easier than ever as there are many online options and complete CPR certification is available online.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is critical because it allows you to respond to many different types of health emergencies. From heart attacks, drowning, suffocation, to smoke inhalation, CPR can be a critical, life-saving procedure when someone goes into cardiac arrest. When your heart stops beating, it’s unable to circulate blood and oxygen throughout your body. In this state, a victim can die within minutes if they are unable to receive any kind of assistance.

According to the American Heart Association, nearly half a million Americans die each year from cardiac arrest. These staggering numbers show just how dangerous this condition is and highlights the importance of becoming CPR certified—no matter your career. However, some professions do actually require you to be CPR certified, and for many others, knowing CPR can be very beneficial, even lifesaving. Here are just a few of the careers you may not expect require CPR certification.

POLICE OFFICERS

In their line of work, police officers must prepare for almost anything. While enforcing and maintaining the law is their primary responsibility, many may not realize that police officers are trained in CPR and other life-saving medical procedures. On the front line, police officers are often the first to arrive at the scene of an accident or a crime and must be prepared to provide medical assistance if needed. It’s especially crucial for front line workers, such as police officers, to be trained in CPR because time is of the essence. With each minute that passes, the survival rate for a cardiac arrest victim decreases by 7 to 10 percent.

FIREFIGHTERS

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and where you find smoke and fire, there will soon be a firefighter to respond. Much like police officers, firefighters are often the first to arrive at an emergency scene to extinguish the flames and rescue anyone in harm’s way. While the flames are dangerous, the most common death from a fire is actually from the smoke. Smoke rapidly sucks the available oxygen from the air and can lead to cardiac arrest. In fact, smoke inhalation is the number one cause of death in home fires. That’s why firefighters are professionally trained in providing CPR and performing other life-saving techniques.

ELECTRICIANS

Many people may not immediately associate electricians with certifications in CPR, but it’s rather common for professional electricians to receive this type of first aid training. Electrical injuries are one of the most prevalent causes of cardiac arrest. Every year, roughly 1,000 people in the United States die due to electrically induced cardiac arrest. When working with electrical devices and wiring is the core of your profession, it only makes sense to receive your certification in CPR. A good place to receive this training is at Blue Guard ME.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

When you’re 30,000 feet above the ground, any minor issue can quickly escalate into an emergency. Remember the movie Snakes on a Plane? While it’s unlikely you’ll encounter a venomous snake on your next flight, the risk of cardiac arrest doesn’t change with your elevation. That’s why those friendly faces who greet you as you board your flight are trained in much more than just serving up snacks and beverages. On all major airlines, flight attendants are required to complete CPR training, in addition to other first aid techniques.  

LIFEGUARDS

From atop their posts, lifeguards are responsible for the safety of countless swimmers and beachgoers. Whether it’s the beach, a lake, or a public pool, lifeguards must be highly trained in CPR as drowning is one of the most frequent causes of cardiac arrest. When water enters the lungs, breathing is impaired, and oxygen stops flowing. If someone is drowning, lifeguards are the first on the scene to provide CPR and any other first aid that is required.

CHILDCARE PROVIDERS

Anyone working with small children should be trained in a range of first aid skills, including CPR. Suffocation is one of the leading causes of cardiac arrest as oxygen cannot reach the lungs due to blockage from a physical object. Choking is an especially acute risk for children. As recently reported, children under the age of four account for half of all choking deaths in the United States. The primary responsibility of a childcare provider is the safekeeping of our young ones. It’s easy to see why those in childcare would be highly trained and up to date on all forms of life-saving techniques and first aid, including CPR.

In only a year, almost half a million Americans die from cardiac arrest. The scale of this tragedy is hard to imagine. Still, it also presents an opportunity for you to get involved and even save lives—that’s why receiving CPR training, which is now even available online, is so crucial. The more people who are trained in CPR dramatically improves the survival rate of cardiac arrest victims. Each year, around 350,000 cardiac arrest episodes occur outside of a hospital and often far from medical attention. When someone outside of a hospital receives CPR from a trained bystander, their chances of survival can increase by up to fifty percent. No matter your career, consider enrolling in an online CPR training class. While the numbers of those impacts may seem overwhelming, there is hope as more and more people receive the training and education to make a difference. Learn CPR. Save a life.