When it comes to knowing how to perform CPR, the list doesn’t begin and end with only nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers. In fact, those professionals make up a tiny percentage of the scope of people required to know first aid and CPR.
According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death among Americans. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation noted that 15.1% of out-of-hospital SCA occurred in public spaces in 2020. With such staggering numbers in mind, it really is no wonder employers are making CPR certifications mandatory.
The main reason these employers insist on hiring CPR-certified candidates is that having an employee on-site who knows how to deliver CPR is of exceptional importance, especially if the working environment includes many people.
Next follows the list of the top careers that require CPR certification in Plano, TX.
Which Careers Require CPR Certification and Why?
From flight attendants to police officers and lifeguards, the list of professionals that are obligated to know CPR is extensive. The reason so many employers are including CPR certificates as must-have application documents is simple: CPR saves lives, and SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) can happen to literally anyone.
Here are 17 jobs and careers that require CPR and First Aid Certification for employment:
1. Emergency Responders
Emergency responders are obligated to go through special training and obtain specific certifications regarding participation in medical emergencies. Paramedics and emergency medical personnel are some occupations that must be knowledgeable in CPR and first aid.
Nationwide, state-governed organizations make it obligatory for applicants to possess particular training and experience before they allow them to be employed as emergency responders. This places emergency responders among the top careers that require CPR certification.
2. Volunteers
Volunteers working with the public must be trained in CPR; otherwise, they won’t be allowed to work as volunteers. Most commonly, volunteers are part of presentations, public gatherings, and other events involving a lot of people, so they have to be prepared to respond to an emergency.
3. Construction Workers
Doing construction work involves working in high altitudes while carrying (and operating) heavy machinery and a lot of tools during poor weather conditions. Accidents can happen easily, which makes knowing CPR paramount.
4. Childcare Providers
When working with children, one can’t be too cautious. Parents know this, so they want someone reliable and knowledgeable in first aid to care for their children.
Moreover, since children, mostly toddlers and infants, are prone to pool accidents, choking, and getting involved in a plethora of dangerous situations, childcare providers simply must know how to deliver CPR.
5. Nurses and Nursing Assistants
It should go without saying that nurses and nursing assistants must know how to perform CPR and give first aid in medical emergencies. This category of professionals is the first point of contact for patients before they see a doctor. So, if anything should happen to patients, nurses have to act and think on their feet. In a nutshell, one can’t get a job as a nurse if they do not possess a CPR certification.
There are a lot of A-class healthcare establishments in Plano, and all of them require nurse candidates to be certified in CPR.
6. Roofing Companies Staff
The roofing industry is considered a high-risk industry. Roofing mechanics or roofing contractors often perform their work at high altitudes, involving all sorts of tools and gadgets. While doing so, they can easily get injured, fall over, or worse, which is why it is highly recommended that roofing companies extend CPR training to their employees.
7. Police Officers
Anyone in law enforcement, like the police, the sheriff, and other staff, are almost always amidst dangerous situations. When working as a police officer, it’s your responsibility to look after the person you’ve detained and prevent anything from escalating. To these professionals, knowing CPR and first aid is monumental.
8. Lifeguards
Lifeguards are one of the top careers that require CPR certification because cardiac arrest and drowning are the most common perils lifeguards face. In that context, being CPR-certified means they know how to resuscitate a person, deliver rescue breaths if needed, or do hands-only CPR.
9. Flight Attendants
Just like the other professionals on this list, flight attendants are in contact with a lot of people daily. To that extent, they have to be prepared to help a passenger or a co-worker suffering a medical emergency. As we mentioned, SCA can happen anywhere, including planes flying as high as 31,000 and 38,000 feet in the air.
10. Electricians
Whether working alone or in teams, electricians are exposed to work-related hazards. Electricians are one of the top careers that require CPR simply because electrical shocks, fires, and explosions are part of the work hazards they encounter.
11. Jail and Prison Personnel
When it comes to medical emergencies, prison employees are the first responders in constricted areas like prisons and jails. If some of the incarcerated persons lose consciousness or stop breathing, the staff is the first one on site before the medical professionals arrive. This is the main reason why all prison and jail staff have to be knowledgeable in CPR and AED use.
12. Teachers and School Staff
It goes without saying that people working in school settings must know how to perform CPR, mainly because sudden cardiac arrests can also occur in children. Some states have made it mandatory for teachers to be CPR-certified, while some leave it up to choice.
13. Social Workers
Social workers are in contact with different categories of people daily, some of which might not be in good health. In that context, social workers might witness a medical emergency while doing their job, which calls for CPR, for example.
14. Athletic Trainers and Other Gym Staff
Sadly, young athletes are prone to suffering sudden cardiac arrest. In fact, exercise is associated with a higher risk of an SCA, and athletes prone to cardiovascular diseases frequently die from cardiac arrest.
The fact that these athletes are almost always in contact with their coaches makes it mandatory for athletic coaches to be CPR certified. Some schools or gyms in Plano won’t consider hiring coaches that do not possess a CPR certificate.
15. Managers and Servers
If you happen to be a restaurant manager or a server, you can boost your chances of being hired if you’re trained in CPR. The main reason for this is that the guests can suffer an injury or a SCA and need immediate medical assistance. And while this isn’t a requirement according to the law, it’s a way to make yourself a more eligible candidate.
16. Security Guards
Just like police officers, security guards might find themselves as the first point of contact in various medical emergencies. In a scenario where a customer in a grocery store loses consciousness, and the guard doesn’t know CPR, you can only imagine the outcome.
17. Firefighters
Besides extinguishing fires, these professionals are also called in to save lives and rescue people from car accidents and other dangerous situations. In most cases, firefighters are the ones to pull people out of collapsed buildings after earthquakes and other natural disasters. Because they’re also trained in first aid, they can help the victims on the spot and keep them alive until they arrive at the hospital.
Key Takeaway: Top Careers That Require CPR Certification
Whether you live in Plano or other areas in Texas, you may fall into one of the top careers that require CPR certification.
Nurses and doctors aren’t the only professionals that have to be knowledgeable in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. From firefighters and teachers to gym staff and electricians, a lot of occupations are required to be CPR-certified so that they can be of help in a medical emergency.
Some states in the U.S. have made CPR certification a requirement, while others leave it up to preferences.
In any case, knowing how to act when someone is in dire need of medical assistance can be a lifesaver. Reputable health organizations encourage citizens to enroll in CPR classes and be able to act in a medical emergency, whether it happens at home, on the street, or in the workplace.
CPR certification courses won’t take up much of your time and yet teach you how to be the person that saves a life.