Blended CPR training courses offer a combination of in-person and online learning to allow students to complete their CPR certification. The concept of blended learning is nothing new, but its popularity has surged in the time of COVID and social distancing.
While the structure of blended learning classes may differ from company to company, most courses usually involve an online learning activity followed by a hands-on learning session. This allows students to practice their skills on CPR mannequins and be evaluated in person by their instructor.
If you’re considering CPR certification, the learning style that’s best for you will depend on your personal preferences. However, blended learning does offer a few benefits over other forms of CPR training.
The Advantages of Blended CPR Training
Convenience
Ease of access is one of the most obvious benefits of blended CPR training. When a large portion of the certification course is online, students don’t need to leave their homes to complete it. All they need is a computer or mobile device, and they can learn wherever they’re most comfortable.
Being able to learn on their own time may lead to increased satisfaction for students, as it seems less like they’re taking time out of their busy schedules. It may even encourage some people to complete their certification when they otherwise wouldn’t have.
Standardization of Teaching
As science advances and we learn more about the human body, best practices for CPR change, making consistent, standardized teaching extremely important. Instructors are responsible for conveying information about CPR, but with human error at play, there’s no guarantee instructions will be given the exact same way every time.
The online portion of blended CPR training can help standardize students’ training by ensuring everyone receives the same information.
Still Requires Hands-On Practice
Hands-on practice is essential to learning CPR. Contrary to claims made by some less-than-reputable websites, online-only CPR certification isn’t valid by OSHA standards. Students need to know how to position their hands, how deep to make their compressions, and how to time their compressions. While all that information can be stated and learned in an online training session, actually doing CPR requires hands-on practice and evaluation by a certified instructor.
Want to learn more about blended learning CPR classes? Specialized Health and Safety can help.