Why Do My CPR And First Aid Certifications Expire?

First aid training is unfortunately not a one and done affair. Like any sort of developing skill, it needs refreshing, reinforcement and revisiting in order to ensure that you’re prepared to act quickly and effectively when the time comes. Not only do you need retraining to feel confident in your own skills – especially in a high pressure environment where first aid is required – but to remain legally certified as a first aid provider, you need to commit to mandatory refresher courses on fixed intervals.

In this blog, Wilson Medic One will let you know what you need to do to stay certified, helping you find the first aid and CPR training courses you need to keep your skills polished and relevant. Read on and make the informed choice for your first aid education.

Do I need to learn new skills?

If you learnt CPR or first aid or attended a refresher course within the last few years, you will most likely not be required to learn an entirely new skill. However, this is not to say it’s just a box-checking exercise; best practices and procedures for first aid do change over time.

For example, in the last 15 years, CPR – seen as a fairly simple procedure – has changed dramatically in how it is taught. As recently as 10 to 15 years ago, rescue breaths (also known as mouth to mouth resuscitation) were seen as the most important component of CPR, but this has since shifted to chest compressions as evidence has suggested maintaining blood circulation has a far larger impact on survivability than forcing air into the respiratory system. Additionally, cases where patients have successfully recovered after more than 90 minutes of CPR has led to instructors stopping practitioners to consider CPR as being futile after a certain point.

In short, you won’t have to learn new skills, but you may have to adjust how those skills are applied.

How often do I need to refresh my first aid and CPR training?

The specific interval depends on your industry, but the Australian Resuscitation Council – a coordinating body representing groups teaching and practicing resuscitation – recommends that CPR training be refreshed at least every 12 months. For more general first aid courses, SafeWork Australia advises that training should be renewed at least every three years, with CPR refreshed annually.

To learn more about what each course entails, or to sign up for a refresher course, speak to the team at Wilson Medic One today.