CPR, First Aid, and MAT Training

Medical emergencies and situations may arise at anytime. A child may fall off a bike and hurt herself or a coworker may have a heart attack leaving work. Would you be prepared to handle such situations? Although some professions, such as child care providers and EMTs, are required to have knowledge of first aid, CPR, and medication administration, it is also valuable and potentially life-saving knowledge for all individuals to possess.

CPR Training

• Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR increases the survival rate of individuals who suffer from cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, administering CPR can double or triple the survival rate of individuals who suffer sudden cardiac arrest. CPR training includes both knowledge and practical skills concerning how to perform CPR for adults, children, and infants.

First Aid Training

• First aid is an important skill to learn and gives you the basic knowledge of what to do when a medical situation arises until EMTs arrive if they are needed. Learning first aid will teach you to handle injuries such as cuts, sprains, and broken bones. The course will also cover how to handle things such as allergic reactions, seizures, and emergencies related to heat and cold.

MAT Training

• Medical Administration Training or MAT may be required, depending on state law, for care providers who administer medication to children or adults in their care. The course will teach individuals to administer medication orally, topically, by inhalation or medical patch, and in the eyes and ears. Participants also learn to give emergency epinephrine injections for allergic reactions.

Certification

• CPR and first aid certifications are generally valid for one to two years. A refresher course must be taken for recertification in CPR and first aid. Often, CPR and first aid are offered together in one course. Medication administration training and certification are offered through state programs and generally only offered to state employees and employees of state provider agencies. Recertification requirements vary by state, but recertification is generally required every one to three years.

Training Time

• CPR and first aid training are offered through local agencies as well as the local chapters of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. The specific training time varies by what is included in the class. The American Red Cross offers an "Adult, Child & Infant CPR with Standard First Aid" course that lasts for nine hours.

  Medication administration training includes both classroom and practical education. The length of the training course varies by state. For example, MAT training through the Virginia Department of Social Services is eight hours whereas training through the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services is twenty-one hours.