I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly of CPR training. It really does boil down to the Instructor’s integrity and ability. The Instructor makes the difference between good, bad and ugly training. Which type of Instructor are you?
The Good
All instructors start out as novices. The difference is that the good ones really do care about teaching well. They put in the work, and dig deep into their CPR training materials and resources to prepare. Good instructors have mentors, and then become mentors. By teaching with others, Instructors learn about themselves. They get feedback about their training, and use it to improve. Good instructors arrive early and are prepared to stay late. You know what else? Good instructors get called back for future courses.
The Bad
A lot of CPR training mistakes are innocent. These mistakes are usually correctable. The first trouble indicator is when an instructor starts a class with the plan on how to get out early. Can we be real for just a minute? We’re teaching people how to save lives, possibly the life of their child or spouse. Do you think the student needs an Instructor who focuses on an early out, or an Instructor who has their eye on mastering the course objectives? Bad instructors can improve! See the CPR training tips below.
The Ugly
Oh, the ugly… It’s not that hard to teach these courses when you care about what you’re doing. Still, some Instructors waste more time and energy trying to cheat the system rather than play by the rules. It happens in every CPR training program, from the largest to the smallest.
Things turn ugly when an Instructor takes a deliberate or malicious shortcut: fake cards, falsified records, fraud. Ugh! The ugly ones have to go. That Instructor will not only lose his Instructor certification, but may also be prosecuted for fraud, and liable for damages! Thankfully there are very few of this type of Instructor.
5 CPR Training Tips
- Care about what you do. Ask yourself, “Can this person save me?”
- Preparation makes perfect. From the location to the content, people can tell when an Instructor is prepared, and especially when they are not.
- Mentor to master. Working with mentor instructors is one of the best ways to master your instructor skills and teach effective classes.
- Integrity isn’t easy. People teach CPR and First Aid because they care. Take the time to do things right, and you will find it saves you time, and turns student into fans!
- Use your resources. Do you want to improve your presentation on First Aid Assessment? We have a video just for you. Was there a student question that you couldn’t answer? Submit an “Ask the Expert” question. Need some help teaching a larger group? We have a blog with tips about that. Visit the Instructor Corner at www.emssafety.com/login for more Instructor resources.
Are you a great instructor who has some CPR training tips to share? We would love to see them on our Facebook and Twitter pages!
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