New Year, New Skills: Why Learning CPR Should Be at the Top of Your Resolution List

As we kick off the new year, it’s common to focus on fitness, health, and self-improvement goals. But there’s one resolution that can truly save lives: learning CPR.

The lifesaving impact of CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a vital skill that can mean the difference between life and death. Emergency responders average between 7 to 10 minutes. However, response times can be even longer in rural areas and hard-to-reach locations, such as remote worksites or large public spaces. This makes bystander CPR a critical factor for survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as it bridges the gap between the onset of a cardiac arrest emergency and the arrival of medical personnel.

Bystander CPR makes an impact by:

• Increasing survival rates. Immediate CPR and early defibrillation can more than double the victim’s chance of survival for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) — one of the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide.
• Buying time for cardiac arrest victims. Early CPR helps to maintain blood flow and oxygen to the brain and other vital organs, buying valuable time until emergency medical services arrive.
• Helping to prevent brain damage or brain death. Without oxygen, brain damage occurs within minutes. Therefore, every second counts! Effective chest compressions can help sustain life until professional medical care is available.

The impact of CPR extends far beyond saving a life. It gives people the chance to continue living the lives they love, with all the memories and milestones that come with it. It’s a parent seeing their children grow or a worker being able to return to their job and provide for their family. Learning CPR prepares you to preserve someone’s future.

How CPR training can empower you

Learning CPR isn’t just about earning a CPR certification that can be turned into your employer. It’s about having the confidence and capability to respond effectively when a life is on the line. CPR training equips you to make quick, clear decisions in high-pressure situations.

During emergency situations, panic often leads to a freeze response or the bystander effect, where people assume someone else will help or take charge. Formal CPR training prepares you to act, regardless of whether it involves a loved one, a stranger, or a colleague.

CPR and AED training provides an opportunity for hands-on practice, allowing you to experience what it’s like to perform high-quality chest compressions, give rescue breaths, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Effective chest compressions are a key component to CPR as they help to maintain blood circulation to the brain and other vital organs. Hands-on practice allows you to practice correct compression depth and rate for adults, children, and infants. Additionally, many people are hesitant to use an AED out of fear of harming the victim. CPR and AED training helps remove this fear by showing just how simple these lifesaving devices are to use. AEDs are designed to guide you through the process with clear voice prompts and visuals, making them user-friendly even for those without a medical background or training.

Beyond CPR and AED certification, many training courses also include First Aid skills, preparing you to respond to other common medical emergencies like choking, allergic reactions, and severe bleeding. Comprehensive CPR, AED, and First Aid training makes you a more capable, confident responder in any situation at home, at work, and in the community.

Why businesses should prioritize CPR training

Resolutions aren’t just for individuals. It’s equally important for businesses to invest in CPR training for their employees. Emergencies can arise at any moment, regardless of the type of organization or industry. Whether it’s a heart attack or workplace injury, training employees to respond effectively can save lives and improve workplace safety.

Here are some of the key benefits of investing in CPR training:

• Promotes a safe work environment. Equipping employees with lifesaving skills fosters a culture of safety that prioritizes the health and well-being of everyone in the workplace.
• Improves employee confidence and morale. High-quality CPR training gives employees practical skills they can rely on during a medical emergency before first responders arrive. Knowing their coworkers are also prepared provides an additional layer of security and peace of mind.
• Helps meet legal and regulatory requirements. Choosing a nationally recognized CPR training program helps ensure compliance with applicable regulations. For example, HSI’s emergency care training programs are accepted, approved, or recognized as an industry credential meeting the requirements of thousands of state regulatory agencies, occupational licensing boards, national associations, commissions, and councils in hundreds of occupations and professions.
• Reduces workplace injury risks. Employees who are CPR, AED, and First Aid certified are better equipped to identify and mitigate risks before they escalate into serious emergencies.

Businesses should also ensure an AED is readily available for employees and customers. All AEDs are designed to be easy-to-use for lay rescuers. While costs can vary depending on the brand and features you choose, the best AED is the one that’s the closest during an emergency.

Having CPR certified personnel and on-site AEDs builds trust, reduces risk, and demonstrates a commitment to safety for all who enter your business.

Make CPR training your New Year’s Resolution

Whether you’re an individual or business looking to prioritize learning CPR in the new year, taking the first step toward CPR training is easier than ever!

For individuals looking to add learning CPR to their 2025 resolution list, HSI offers:

1. In-person training with an authorized HSI Instructor, including lecture and hands-on skills practice in a traditional classroom setting.
2. Blended learning allows for a hybrid approach that combines online learning and in-person skills practice, delivered by an authorized HSI Instructor.
3. Remote Skills Verifications (RSV) provides students with a fully remote training experience, including a remote hands-on skills verification session with a live, authorized HSI Instructor.

For businesses, HSI provides tailored solutions to meet your training needs. Our Instructor Development Course allows you to develop an in-house instructor to train employees within your business. You also have the option to sign up for RSV training with an authorized HSI Instructor or take advantage of our National Training Solution (NTS) – a turnkey approach where we handle the logistics of sending an authorized HSI Instructor to your facility.

Remember: By learning CPR skills, you’re not just checking off a new year resolution from your list — you’re making your community and workplace safer.