If someone in the gym started showing signs of a heart attack, would you be ready?
What would you do if one of your clients became unconscious and stopped breathing? Would you be able to help them?
With a CPR/AED certification, the answer is yes. It might still be a bit unnerving, but with practice and certification, you can be the difference between life and death for that person in the gym.
In many large or franchised facilities, all employees are required to be certified in CPR/AED, but that isn’t always the case. If you work at a small gym, an unmonitored facility, or in a private space, you might be the only one there to help. This makes it all the more important to get certified and stay up to date on your practice and credentials.
Why Do Personal Trainers Need CPR/AED Certification?
While personal trainers don’t provide CPR on a daily basis, we do work directly with clients engaged in physical activity, during which there is a risk for cardiac incidents. A 2013 study estimated that 16% of indoor cardiac incidents occur at exercise facilities. Only 6% of those were at a traditional exercise facility, such as a commercial gym. Even with the odds being fairly low, being untrained simply isn’t worth the risk.
Be Ready in Case of Emergency
CPR/AED training prepares you to respond appropriately should an emergency happen, and those emergencies aren’t always cardiac incidents. There are many other reasons a client or gym goer may require CPR or defibrillation, including respiratory emergencies or severe, acute physical trauma.
As a personal trainer, clients are under your supervision. They and their loved ones depend on you to keep the client safe during your sessions.
Knowing the signs of cardiac and respiratory distress, and how to respond gives them peace of mind. It gives you both the power to help and the responsibility to do so.
If you’re a trainer who works outside of a traditional gym facility, being CPR/AED certified is perhaps even more important. Trainers who work independently – at parks, apartment gyms, studios, or boutique facilities – may be the only professional present if a client has a significant health incident. In these situations, you may not be able to rely on outside help until medical personnel are called and arrive.
An estimated 10% of exercise-related cardiac incidents occur in non-traditional exercise facilities, making the risk higher than a typical gym setting.
If these numbers seem daunting to you or you have a client who’s worried about having a health incident where CPR or AED use is required, know that there is an upside to all this. Fitness facilities actually have the highest rate of survival following a cardiac incident in a public place, according to the American College of Cardiology.
Clients and gym goers who have a cardiac incident at a health facility are likely to get faster CPR treatment (thanks to employees or others who are certified) and have earlier access to AED use. With a 56% survival rate compared to other public spaces, your clients are more likely to get back on their feet and return to doing what they love, which hopefully is training with you.
Certified for Employment
The primary reason for getting CPR/AED certified is to provide care in a health emergency. But aside from getting certified for your clients, you may be required to certify in order to train.
Most major fitness organizations who provide personal training certifications, including the ACSM, NASM, ACE, and ISSA require a CPR/AED certification in order to be certified as a CPT. In order to maintain that certification, an updated CPR/AED course is also typically required every certification cycle as part of your continuing education.
CPR/AED certification is also required by many, if not most, employers in the health and fitness industry. It protects your employers from liability and may be required by the facility insurance policy.
CPR/AED certification isn’t just a requirement though. It’s part of a plan for keeping your clients safe.
What CPR/AED Certification Does a Personal Trainer Need?
Just like there are countless organizations for certifications and continuing education credits, there are also many providers and courses available for CPR/AED certification.
Before you register for a class, make sure you know what to look for. The organization you have your CPT through and your employer may all have specific requirements concerning your CPR/AED course and certification.
Here’s what to ask when choosing a CPR/AED certification course:
- Does the certification need to include both CPR and AED?
- Do you need adult only, or is pediatric CPR/AED also recommended?
- Is first aid training also required?
- Which training providers are accepted?
- Is a hands-on skills assessment required?
- Do I need to take classes in-person, or are online/blended classes accepted?
Major CPR providers, such as the AHA and Red Cross, offer a variety of classes that include different training options. Some are CPR only, while others include AED. Unless otherwise noted, classes are typically for adults only, so if your facility allows minors or you plan on working with youth, you’ll want to opt for a class that includes pediatrics.
Courses may also offer first aid as part of their CPR/AED course. These certifications cover a wider range of emergencies, including bleeding, choking, environmental hazards, and other health incidents. It can be a valuable addition to your CPR/AED training, as all of these emergencies are ones that you may encounter as a personal trainer.
Once you know the type of class you want to take, look at what providers offer that course. Most employers require a certification from a national organization like the American Heart Association or the Red Cross. These are two of the top (and most common) providers of CPR/AED certifications, and their courses can be found across the United States. Before choosing a course, see which provider(s) your personal training organization and employer accepts.
Many certifying providers now offer blended or hybrid training options, as well as fully in-person classes. A few providers offer remote certifications, though their certifications may not be as widely accepted as ones with a physical skills assessment. Hybrid courses let you study the majority of the course online, at your own pace, and then have an in-person skills assessment where a qualified teacher will teach and test you on the required skills.
These can be great courses if you enjoy learning online. As someone who taught CPR/AED courses for years, I can say blended courses work well as a refresher or for those who are self-motivated to learn. If you are a more visual learner and have time to take an in-person class, they offer a more classroom-based learning and are great to take at least once in your career.
The full certification process can take between 3-5 hours, so it’s worth doing the research beforehand so you don’t waste time on a course that isn’t accepted or doesn’t fit your learning style.
Maintaining Your CPR/AED Certification
CPR/AED certifications are not a one-and-done. Most certifications expire after two years, but you may be required to renew it more often.
This isn’t just red tape, or your employer making you take more time out of your busy schedule to get recertified. It’s an opportunity to practice the skills you need for a real-world situation, and since most people don’t have regular access to a practice mannequin, a CPR class is the best place to brush up on your skills.
Renewing your certification every two years (or more frequently) also allows you to stay up-to-date on the latest guidelines. Most CPR organizations update their courses every 5 years or more often as new research comes forward. If you stay current on your certification, it means you’re getting the best and the latest knowledge and skills when it comes to saving someone’s life.
Remember to choose a course that gets your certification renewed before or by the expiration of your last certification so that there isn’t a gap where you’re not certified.
What CPR/AED Records Should Personal Trainers Keep?
So you get CPR certified, they give you a wallet-sized card, and you’re on your way. Right?
Almost.
Because there’s a really good chance that tiny card is going to get misplaced, make sure you keep other documentation of your CPR/AED certification. You may need it to show proof of certification to an employer, your personal training certification organization, or to comply with insurance or legal requests.
Here’s what CPR/AED documentation you’ll want to keep on hand and easily accessible:
- Digital copy of certification card/certificate
- Provider name
- Certification date
- Expiration date
- Proof of any required hands-on assessment
- Copies submitted to employer/certification organization
- Renewal reminder
Keep it stored in two places for extra security. Keep a physical copy at your place of employment and a digital copy on your phone. A folder on the cloud or screenshots come in handy when you need a quick reference or if you’re not at work.
Reduce Your Professional Risk
Once your CPR/AED certification is done and your documentation is done, it’s time to prepare to implement what you’ve learned. If you haven’t already done so, go through these 5 easy steps to be ready for an emergency wherever you train:
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- Know where the AED is at the facility. If there’s more than one, know where to find the closest one from any place in the facility. Most AEDs are similar in function, but they may look different or have different set-ups. Open up the AED at your location and make sure it’s equipped with the appropriate equipment, including batteries, pads, scissors, or razors to help you prep and provide care. Bring any concerns to your manager or the operator of the facility.
- Know the gym/studio’s emergency procedures. Some gyms have an emergency protocol, but not all do. Make sure you know the chain of command and if you’ll have other employees working at the same time as you. I’ve worked at gyms where the manager is responsible for taking the lead in an emergency, and I’ve worked at places where leading is my role as a trainer. If your facility doesn’t have procedures, talk with management.
- Know how to contact emergency services at every location where you train. Be aware of addresses and locations so that you can direct emergency services to your location. This includes building access codes and parking accesses where applicable.
- Know the process for reporting/documenting an incident afterward. Most facilities have an incident report form that is filled out during/after an accident or emergency event. Find out who is in charge of that report (because it may be you), and what your role is in appropriate documentation and liability.
- Make sure you’re insured. Being able to provide care to your clients in the moment an emergency happens is one thing. But if they hold you liable for it, your career may be at risk, so having an insurance policy helps keep you safe while you’re keeping your clients safe.
Strength When You Need It
Your CPR/AED certification does more than just give you another line on your resume. It can save lives.
As a certified individual, it falls to you to provide appropriate and timely care to those experiencing a health event or emergency while under your care or in a facility you’re employed at.
When your call to action comes, be prepared to act, and feel confident in your ability to do so with a CPR/AED certification to help them and an insurance policy to protect you.
