I have someone that wants to get me a CPR class scheduled as a Christmas/Going into the Navy gift... I know that the AHA (American Heart Association) does classes with fire depts.

Is there any special cert. that I should get before shipping out?

I know that in boot they will teach us again, I just think taking a CPR course before going will help...

The do train CPR in boot, but it doesn't certify you. Certification classes occur seperately, and you will get certified while you are at corpsman school.

No "need" to get any thing done, but CPR courses are really good to have, especially when you have a kid. They actually just changed a lot of the compression requirements and stuff recently.

Ive been cpr cert. in high school, i just never renewed... Its a cool gift ideal and one saturday of my time before I go wont hurt...

I want all the help I can before I get up there

Depending on your rate, you may be required to get CPR cert'ed once you are in. Even in rates that people don't think about, like ET, EM, etc. In order to work on engergized electrical equipment it's required to have a CPR certified person present. Typically the boat will handle scheduling and ensuring your attendance.

i dont see the need for it, arnt you leaving in a couple of months? your going to be corpsman, the procedures and protocals for civilian cpr are very different than military medicine. remember i am an EMT so i do know this subject, when i say they are different i only mean the protocalls are different. in my EMT class everything had to be perfectly in the right order, beacuse of laws and politics. yea, i know, bull ****. but in the military, medicine will be more crude and will be to the point. much better in my opinion. technically if i see a underage <18 person suffering or choking, i have to get parental consent before i touch him/her, or i could get charged with battery/assult. this is just one example there are plenty more. if you get certified now you will be taught all the BS in healthcare provider CPR, i would wait and go into your corpsman class with a fresh mind.

If you want to do it, do it. It will help you in the long run. If you are going HM, as I thought you said, they will teach it again, but you will have a good idea of how things work. As stated CPR has changed with compression to ventilations and so forth.

The statement about military CPR being different than civilian CPR is wrong though. CPR is the now being taught the same way and consent truly is a non issue. Anyone today that has some form of CPR training does not need consent to treat someone else, they fall under the Good Samaritan act, and as long as they stay within their scope of practice they are fine.

As it was prior to me going in I had my CPR certs done in high school. I did get to renew while in the Navy and the exact same certifying agency gave me my renewal card. I do believe it was American Heart.

So as it goes it is up to you whether you want to do the class or not. You will get trained in it in the military, but if someone else if offering the class, take advantage of it. You may have questions answered before going in, giving you a better understanding before taking the course again.

quote:

Originally posted by engine9tfd:
i dont see the need for it, arnt you leaving in a couple of months? your going to be corpsman, the procedures and protocals for civilian cpr are very different than military medicine. remember i am an EMT so i do know this subject, when i say they are different i only mean the protocalls are different. in my EMT class everything had to be perfectly in the right order, beacuse of laws and politics. yea, i know, bull ****. but in the military, medicine will be more crude and will be to the point. much better in my opinion. technically if i see a underage <18 person suffering or choking, i have to get parental consent before i touch him/her, or i could get charged with battery/assult. this is just one example there are plenty more. if you get certified now you will be taught all the BS in healthcare provider CPR, i would wait and go into your corpsman class with a fresh mind.

That's only if the parent is present. If no parent is around to give consent, it's implied.

quote:

Originally posted by engine9tfd:
but in the military, medicine will be more crude and will be to the point. much better in my opinion. technically if i see a underage <18 person suffering or choking, i have to get parental consent before i touch him/her, or i could get charged with battery/assult. this is just one example there are plenty more. if you get certified now you will be taught all the BS in healthcare provider CPR, i would wait and go into your corpsman class with a fresh mind.

CPR guidelines are the same across the board, no matter where you get the training. In order to get the certification, you still have to pass the CPR certification guidelines set forth be either the AHA or the red cross. THIS DOES NOT CHANGE in the military. If you carry a card, you meet the certification.

well when i took my class we learned some things about tactical EMS and military medicine and my instructors always told us that they differed protocal wise. i realize consent is not an issue if you do not have a license to practice medicine. but if i were to do so, i could get sued. since i do have an EMT license to practice. anywhoo...

There is really a whole big wide world out there concerning medicolegal when it comes to EMS.

The thing about CPR and providing first aid is that as a bystander, as long as you respond within your scope of practice, you are fine and covered by Good Samaritan.

This goes for ANYONE, EMT, Paramedic, Nurse, Joe Blow with a CPR cert. If you are not acting in the course of your duties, IE not working as an EMT, and come across someone who needs CPR, you are covered. Where you would run into problems is if your compressions looked like something from the WWE, trying to use jumper cables to shock someone, or trying to do a cricothyrotomy etc. As long as you don't do anything to make the pt worse, you will be fine.

As far as consent even goes, don't even worry about that. If it comes down to the fact that YOU, as a bystander, has to perform CPR etc, the pt has more to worry about than giving consent, Minor or not, and you are going on implied consent.

(do not seek out consent from a parent to perform the Heimlich, especially if they are not right there. If the parent wants their child to die, then they may have more to worry about than suing you for battery. Even if such situation was encountered, the parent will be looking for help, not worrying about legal)

The ONLY thing extra that one should probably do before any CPR is to see if the person has a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) bracelet or necklace. If they do, you should only do supportive care.

Its a nice and thoughtful gift and I might offend the giver... I ship out in 3 months and from the posts here it doesnt seem like it will hurt getting it... Thanks everybody

If you're in uniform and on the job as an EMT or other health care provider, you may be held to standards of practice, but not in uniform and just a bystander, GSA applies.

That's why when you're an EMT/Paramedic/Doc and you're NOT working but come upon a scene, you NEVER identify yourself as one.

BTW, EVERYBODY should get CPR certed, as well as basic first aid training. You never know when someone you love needs it and you don't want to be the person who just stands there looking stupid.