Is Certification Required To Save a Life?
When it comes to CPR, the actual training and a certification card are two completely different matters. When one goes through a CPR training, they become fully capable of saving a life, whether by performing CPR, using an AED or performing a choking procedure.
Once you receive CPR training, you are fully enabled to help one in need, whether they are in cardiac arrest, choking on an object, pulled from the bottom of a pool and the like. No certification is required to save the life of one in need. As long as you act in good faith, with full intentions of saving that individual, you are acting in full accordance with the law, and protected as such under the Good Samaritan Law.
Well then what’s certification for?
There are a few professions that require a certain level of CPR certification, as part of the line of duty. For example, some medical professionals are required to hold an advanced level of CPR certification, such as Heartsaver AED, while others may be required to have more advanced CPR certification, like BLS and ACLS.
A layman and laywoman, though, is never required to be certified in CPR. Some employers may requires it, such as a CPR-certified school, camp or office, but by law one is covered if they perform CPR after having received the appropriate training, regardless of certification, thanks to the Good Samaritan Law.
The Good Samaritan Law
The Good Samaritan law protects those who act in good faith and stick to reasonable actions in an effort to save a life. Here are a couple of the rules:
Act in good faith. As long as you act with the intention to save the life of another, you’re covered, no matter the outcome.
As long as you act reasonably and in your scope of training, you’re covered.
If you are trained in CPR and the use of an AED, you are fully covered in the Good Samaritan laws.
Basically, if you're trained, perform.
To sum up
Anyone can help another person, with or without CPR Certification. CPR Training is immensely helpful in saving lives and doesn’t absolutely have to result in CPR Certification. The big difference between CPR Certification and CPR Training is whether or not you need that certification for your job or school. The training is relatively the same. The only reason that card is needed is so that your company can prove you have received training that meets American Heart Association standards, if the company requires it. That’s it. CPR certification is NOT needed in an emergency.
It's really very simple. If you help someone in need, the paramedics aren’t going to demand to see your ‘card’ because it isn’t a license. Helping people requires no license. Cards don’t save lives. Only training and the willingness to step up for another human being can do that.
BLINK's goal is to train as many people as possible, not necessarily certify them. More people with basic skills means less deaths from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, drowning, choking and the like. Together, with G-d’s help, we WILL accomplish our goal.