There are a number of ways to get cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, as well as classes which will allow people who have already trained to recertify. CPR training is very useful, because it allows people to intervene when people experience heart attacks with a first aid method which has been proved effective. People with CPR certification may also find themselves more employable, as many health clubs, childcare centers, educational facilities, and so forth prefer staffers with CPR training, or may actually require the staff to get CPR certified before they can start work.
One of the best ways to get CPR training is to attend a class in which people will learn about CPR and other first aid and lifesaving techniques. Such classes are routinely offered at hospitals, health clubs, clinics, and some schools, and they are often widely advertised in the community. People who can't find a CPR class can check with a local Red Cross chapter to find out where classes are offered, and how to sign up. Local hospitals and health advocacy organizations also tend to have information.
If a workplace requires CPR certification, it may also offer periodic certification and recertification classes for employees. Employees who work for such companies may want to ask about company classes before pursuing outside certification, and if the company doesn't hold a class, it can help to ask where and when classes are offered, and if reimbursement will be offered to employees after they have become CPR certified.
People can also opt to get CPR training online, through a series of videos which cover the basics. Some people prefer to attend a class so that they can practice with a dummy and get a feel for what CPR is like, while others may find online classes sufficient for learning about how to perform CPR safely and effectively.
Training in CPR and more advanced lifesaving techniques is routinely offered to medical professionals. Both medical professionals and laypeople need to recertify on a regular basis as the CPR guidelines periodically change, and people who rarely perform CPR may forget the specifics or make mistakes if they do not take refresher courses to keep up their skills. For laypeople, it helps to get certified with a group of friends and to make a habit of recertifying together, to keep everyone's skills up, and so that members of the group can remind each other when it is time to take another course of CPR training.