Differences Between First Aid and CPR: An Expert Guide
First Aid and CPR are often mentioned together, but they are not the same. While both are essential in emergencies, they serve different purposes and involve different skills. First Aid course covers a wide range of immediate care techniques for injuries and illnesses, while CPR Training (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) focuses on restoring breath and its circulation in cases of cardiac arrest. In this blog, we’ll explore the key differences between first aid and CPR and know why learning both is important.
What is a First Aid Training an when it is used?
A first aid course is a comprehensive form of training designed for emergencies where a person is injured and requires immediate care until medical help arrives. It covers essential skills for treating injuries, accidents, and sudden illnesses. This training is not limited to emergencies or disaster situations. It can also be useful in daily life for managing minor accidents. Learning these basic skills empowers individuals to respond quickly and effectively in various situations.
A First aid is used in treating
- cuts, burns, and wounds
- Bone fractures or sprains
- Nosebleeds, fainting, and seizures
- Choking and allergic reactions
- Bandaging and using a first aid kit
What Does a CPR Certification Training Include?
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training is an essential skill used to support someone who is not breathing and whose heart is not responding. It is a life-saving technique used in emergencies like cardiac arrest, drowning, electric shock, or choking, where the person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing.
A proper CPR procedure follows the standard steps below
Analyzing the situation: It includes checking a person’s unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing, or the heart to have stopped.
Performing Chest Compressions: Chest compressions includes placing your hands one on top of the other on the centre of the person’s chest. With your elbows straight and hands locked, push hard and fast at a depth of about 2 inches.
Delivering Rescue Breaths: Provide airway management using head-tilt/chin-lift technique using barriers such as a handkerchief.
Using an AED: Using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to restore heart rhythm following proper safety precautions.
Difference between First Aid and CPR certification Training:
Purpose of Training
The primary difference lies in the purpose of each course. A First Aid course focuses on providing immediate care in injuries and illnesses. Its goal is to stabilize the person and prevent the condition from worsening. In contrast, CPR training is specifically designed to handle life-threatening situations like cardiac arrest or sudden collapse, where a person has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating.
Types of Emergencies Covered
A first aid course covers a wide range of emergencies, from minor injuries to more serious conditions like fainting, seizures, or choking. It’s suitable for general daily incidents at home, school, or the workplace. On the other hand, CPR is used in critical emergencies that involve a lack of pulse or breathing, such as heart attacks where every second counts to save a life.
Skills and Techniques Taught:
In First Aid training, learners are taught how to clean wounds, apply bandages, stop bleeding, use a first aid kit, and treat burns, fractures, or nosebleeds. CPR training, however, focuses on performing chest compressions, giving rescue breaths, managing the airway using techniques using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to restore heart rhythm.
Certification and Course Depth
CPR certification is more regulated and often required for certain jobs, especially in healthcare, childcare, and fitness sectors. It usually includes a practical evaluation and is valid for a specific period (commonly two years). In comparison, basic first aid courses are more accessible, shorter in duration, and are often included in school or workplace safety programs. However, advanced First Aid certifications are also available for professionals.
When to Use Each Skill
First aid is used when someone is injured, conscious, and need treatment for example, for bleeding, burns, or fainting. Use CPR when someone is unconscious, unresponsive, and not breathing. In many emergencies, both skills may be needed like in the case of a person who starts choking and then becomes unresponsive, requiring CPR.
Why You Should Learn Both
Knowing the difference is essential, but being trained in both first aid and CPR gives you the power to handle almost any medical emergency. From minor injuries to life-threatening situations, your response can make a huge difference.
So, if you’re ready to learn life-saving skills, Magic Eye offers a first aid training program in India. Our programs are designed for individuals, healthcare workers, corporate employees, students, and more.