What is First Aid Certification?

First Aid Certification training prepares you to react to a variety of medical emergencies until first responders arrive on the scene. Those who receive first aid certification training will learn how to recognize and respond to medical emergencies as minor as a small cut or burn, or as serious as a heart attack or seizure.^[1]

First Aid certification classes should be taught by a certified instructor from a reputable organization. Cintas is one of the largest national providers of American Heart Association (AHA) First Aid, CPR and AED training.

What’s included in a First Aid Certification Training Course?

First Aid Certification commonly takes about 3-4 hours and can be completed through instructor-led training or blend of online training combined with instructor-led training.

Certification tests your knowledge of administering First Aid. Certification training includes an explanation of basic first aid principles, how to recognize and respond to medical emergencies and teaches specific steps for treating injuries.

Instructor-led courses teach hands-on skills and include practice with a 1:1 or 1:2 student to mannequin ratio presented through realistic case-based scenarios. Blended online courses included scored quizzes to gauge first aid comprehension. Certification is valid for 2 years, but a best practice is to refresh your training every 12 to 15 months.

Who Needs First Aid Certification?

First aid training courses provide the latest skills and techniques for assisting an ill or injured person in the critical moments before emergency medical assistance arrives. Anyone can benefit from first aid certification. Although not specifically required for all employers, OSHA recommends every workplace have at least one person certified in First Aid. See the Is First Aid Training Mandatory FAQ page for more information.  ^[2]

First Aid training standards can vary by workplace, however there are a number of industries where First Aid training is highly recommended. These industries include construction sites, corporate sites, manufacturing facilities and child care and senior care centers. ^[3]

First aid certification allows you to use the latest techniques to care for an ill or injured person before first-responders arrive at the scene.

Types of First Aid Certifications

There are several types of First Aid Certification depending on your needs.

They Include:

• First Aid Certification: trains on the basics of the most common first aid emergencies, including how to recognize them, how to call for help and how to perform lifesaving skills.
• CPR/AED Certification (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): trains how to recognize cardiac distress, perform CPR and to use AED equipment.
• BLS Certification (Basic Life Support): trains medical professionals in more advanced CPR to assist in breathing and cardiac emergencies for adult, child, and infants.

First Aid Recertification

First Aid certification lasts for 2 years, but a best practice is to refresh your training every 12 to 15 months to keep up with the latest first aid techniques. While the AHA does not offer a recertification course, many people choose to renew their First Aid certification using a blended online option with on-site skills session.

AHA First Aid Courses meet the OSHA First Aid training requirements detailed in 29 CFR 1910.151. Cintas offers AHA First Aid, CPR/AED classes on-site at your facility, open enrollment classes at a Cintas First Aid & Safety facility or blended online/on-site training.

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