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CPR Pro Certification

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the professional rescuer (CPRO) is similar to CPR for the lay responder, but teaches the student how to handle graduated emergency situations and equipment. According to the American Red Cross in "CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer," those required to take the class are usually "public safety personnel, such as law enforcement agents and firefighters...medical personnel...members of emergency response teams...and employees with a duty to respond.'

  1. Equipment and Supplies

    • Students are taught CPRO skills by practicing with the following supplies: CPRO manual and DVD, bloodborne pathogens manual and video, manikins (used for rescue breaths and chest compressions), automatic external defibrillator training device, oxygen delivery systems, breathing barriers and disposable gloves.

    Course Basics

    • The course is typically eight hours long with six participants per instructor and the assumption that skills will be grasped in a reasonable amount of time by all participants. Students are evaluated by their application of the skills as observed by the teacher and a written test which they must pass with a score of no lower than 80 percent.

    Lesson One

    • According to the American Red Cross, in the first lesson of a CPRO class, a student is taught these modules: Responsibilities and Characteristics of a Professional Rescuer, The Emergency Medical Services System, Legal Considerations, Standard Precautions, Taking Action, Moving a Victim, Resuscitation Masks, Initial Assessment, Breathing Emergencies, Rescue Breathing, Bag-Valve-Mask Resuscitator and Airway Obstruction over a total of approximately three hours and 50 minutes. This lesson is meant to educate rescuers on the legal issues involved with resuscitating a victim in order to eliminate their fear of being sued for attempting to help, as well as the function of basic lifesaving tools.

    Lesson Two

    • In lesson two students are taught the following: The Cardiac Chain of Survival, Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack, Cardiac Arrest, CPR, Two-Rescuer CPR, Introduction to AED, When the Heart Stops, How to use AEDs, AED/CPR Skill Scenarios and Review of Course Content. This second lesson goes on to advanced skills and tools, such as CPR for adults, children and infants and how to use an automatic external defibrillator on someone with a heart emergency. Lesson two lasts for approximately four hours and 10 minutes for a total of eight hours overall.

    Chain of Care

    • The job of a lay responder is to preserve the victim until more highly trained personnel arrive. Professional rescuers (with a CPRO certification) will be able to use more advanced techniques and rescue tools on a victim with a breathing or heart emergency and extend the victim's chances of survival until they arrive at the hospital, the last step in the EMS system.

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