Christine Pitawanich
NCC News
Learn to Save a Life While Sitting at Your Computer
The Onondaga-Oswego chapter of the American Red Cross offers online CPR and Automated External Defibrillator training for people who are too busy for a traditional class. It’s a relatively new program that, for the local chapter, began in February.
Numbers Slowly Climb
Though the program is new, enrollment is up. So far, an estimated 100 people have successfully finished it. “We’ve had a steady increase every month” said Keith Bertrand, a local Red Cross trainer.
Traditional vs. Online Classes?
By far, the biggest reason people choose online training is the convenience factor. As opposed to the traditional CPR/AED class which takes about five hours from start to finish, internet users have the option to use up to 14 days to finish the online portion of the test. “It’s more convenient because you could do it anytime,” said Harry Fowler, a resident of Syracuse who has been through the program.
Busy Lives
Plus, many of the traditional CPR and AED classes are held when people might not have spare time. “Most of our classes that we hold here at the chapter are in the evenings and some people aren’t free in the evenings,” said Bertrand. “I think people like having options,” he later added.
The Physical Skills
Though the reading and testing is online, the skills portion of the test must be done in person at the chapter. Scheduling is flexible because the skills test usually only takes two hours.
A Little More Expensive, A Lot More Convenient
According to Bertrand, taking the Adult CPR and AED class online is $10 more than the traditional course offering, but it’s much more convenient. For a list of other courses the local Red Cross offers online, visit www.syrarc.org.
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