In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

As I have mentioned on the blog my CPR-AED accreditation has expired, and I have to renew it — not only because I need the official paperwork, but I also feel like I could use the skills refresher. Though the fact I haven’t gotten around to it typifies the difficulty that a lot people have in putting aside time to take CPR. So, I thought I’d mention a couple of creative CPR-AED options — one more convenient, one more romantic.

The more convenient alternative allows for completing some of the course online. Many local Red Cross chapters offer this “Blended Learning” approach, which combines both web-based and on-site training. It cuts class time by half from 4 hours to sometime between 90 and 12o minutes depending where you take it. The online component allows you do the course at your own pace, though you do have to pass the online test (getting 80% or better).

The more romantic option, “Singles CPR” comes, not surprisingly, from the innovative folks at the Oregon Trail Red Cross Chapter. The idea of “Singles CPR” is to add a fun and alluring twist to emergency training with the hope that the dummy’s heart is not the only one that starts fluttering during the session. And, “Singles CPR” has already resulted in at least one love match. This is the kind of unusual approach to CPR and preparedness in general that is so helpful in encouraging people to make the extra effort (though, of course, as a happily married lapsed resuscitator it’s not for me.)

OREGON TRAIL RED CROSS “SINGLES CPR” PARTICIPANTS MOVE IN CLOSE ON THEIR “FIRST DATE”