How Often Should Your CPR Skills Be Refreshed?

In the event of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, could make all the difference in saving a life. 

However, little more than 50% of the Australian population are fully trained in CPR – and it pays to refresh your knowledge, too. 

Taking CPR refresher training helps to ensure you’re still competent at the skills required to support people in need – and for many professionals and healthcare providers, helps to ensure compliance. In this guide, we’ll explore when to refresh your skills and what that involves. 

How Often Should Your CPR Skills Be Refreshed?

You should refresh your CPR certification – that is, HLTAID009 – once every 12 months. Although CPR certification validity doesn’t expire, the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) recommends a yearly renewal to make sure you’re clear on what CPR entails. 

However, in some cases, employers might require you to renew your CPR certification more frequently.  

Many of our clients, who are first responders and healthcare professionals like you, say that refreshing at least yearly is a great boost to their confidence in an emergency. 

CPR Training Guidelines and Standards

The standard CPR training supported by the Australian Red Cross typically requires you to attend a two-and-a-half-hour classroom session. It’s the most standardised of CPR skill refreshment options.

It’s a hands-on session, which means you’ll get the chance to practice what you learn as well as learn the differences in techniques used to support adults and children.

CPR guidelines set by the ARC are nationally recognised – meaning from ACT to Western Australia, you can legally use the skills gained in the course nationwide.

Of course, beyond basic training and refresher courses, you should always refer to standardised CPR guidelines to ensure you’re delivering appropriate legal care in emergencies.

CPR Training Equipment

When attending a CPR refresher course, you’ll likely encounter standardised training equipment such as CPR manikins. These human-shaped devices help you practice compressions and breathing techniques and help trainers measure your pacing and aptitude. 

During skills refreshment, you’ll also have the opportunity to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), which can be lifesaving between rounds of traditional CPR. 

In fact, you’ll also learn the difference between CPR vs AED, and when you should effectively switch between one technique and the other. 

Hands-on learning is widely hailed as one of the most effective ways to develop long-term skills, with studies claiming nine out of ten people agree. What better way, then, to refresh your CPR competencies? 

Components of a CPR Refresher Course

Key components of a CPR refresher course supported by the ARC include: 

●       Detailed CPR steps

●       Basic life support

●       Physical competency with an AED

●       Welfare considerations

●       Legal considerations and requirements

 The ARC states that HLTAID009’s live, hands-on training experience is designed to give students the confidence to be able to support people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, and those who are simply not breathing properly.

 The course is largely physical, covering roleplay with other students, practical AED use, and manikin training. However, there’s also a theory element, where students can test their knowledge so that they can recall the essential CPR steps in an emergency situation.

 Of course, after attending refresher training, it’s also important to have a standard CPR emergency handbook if you need it. Many of our clients say that, while refreshing their training helps the CPR basics to stick, having a physical resource gives them an extra layer of confidence.

Importance of CPR Refresher Training

Although the standard CPR refresher course is fairly short, it’s an essential booster to both your confidence and skill set. Simply learning CPR skills at the start of your training is all well and good, but like many skills, your knowledge and confidence might wane over time.

 CPR refresher training allows you to practice typical steps and to get re-accustomed to equipment such as AEDs in safe environments. You’re never practicing with real people, and you don’t have to wait until an emergency occurs to try out your skills.

 It’s thought that only 10% of people survive cardiac arrests outside of hospital largely due to a lack of CPR support and defibrillation.

 Acting fast with effective CPR can not only save someone’s life without the need for hospital support, but can also prevent brain damage. It’s estimated that brain damage can start to take effect within six minutes of a person stopping breathing, or their heart failing.

 Therefore, supporting someone with CPR and AEDs confidently and within minutes can make a tremendous difference. It’s all the more reason to reinvest in CPR knowledge regularly.

Workplace Compliance and CPR Training

Across Australia, it’s generally accepted that first aiders in the workplace should refresh their CPR certifications at least once a year. Beyond this, they should also renew their standard first aid qualifications every three years. 

Guidelines set by Safe Work Australia (SWA) state that workplaces must possess at least one recognised first aid kit, and that they should be accessible to trained first aiders. Its guidelines also state that companies should undergo first aid risk assessments to ensure compliance. 

CPR refresher training can ensure further compliance by providing first raiders with the knowledge and confidence to apply legally recognised techniques in an emergency situation.

 Trained first aiders, according to SWA, should receive additional training in the event of special risks and circumstances – to keep businesses compliant and to ensure the safety of anyone who falls ill.

Conclusion

Basic CPR and first aid training is an asset to anyone working with the public or who might need to support employees who suffer cardiac arrests. However, knowledge of CPR can dwindle over the course of a year, especially if no emergencies take place.

 Therefore, refreshing your knowledge with a course every 12 months will ensure you can confidently help people who are struggling to breathe. As mentioned, acting fast with effective CPR and AED use can save lives and even prevent brain damage.

 We hope there may never be an occasion where you need to practice CPR in real life. But, it’s always better to be safe than sorry – and refreshing your knowledge is your ticket to practicing CPR with confidence.

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