Definition

• According to Princeton University, first aid is the term for emergency care given before regular medical aid can be obtained. Those who are certified to administer first aid may perform tasks ranging from putting a bandage on a bleeding cut to immobilizing and splinting a broken leg. An up-to-date certification in first aid is required before you can become certified as a first aid instructor.
  
  

Institutions

• There are several organizations that provide classes for both first aid and first aid instructor certifications. The American Red Cross is one of the most well-known institutions that provides training for prospective first aid instructors. As most instructor programs are very similar to the Red Cross program, the Red Cross program will be used as the example for this article. Other programs are available through the American Heart Association and the National Safety Council.
  
  

Certificaftion

• To become a certified first aid instructor with the Red Cross, you must be at least 17 years of age, have completed a Fundamentals of Instructor Training course, and have passed all Red Cross examinations with a score of at least 80 percent. The actual title of the instructor certification course is Lay Responder First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor. Course length will vary by region and instructor, but after completion of all requirements you will be certified to teach First Aid/CPR/AED in a variety of settings.
  
  

Class Topics

• Instructor certification courses assume that students are already very familiar with first aid; as such, only a brief review of lifesaving concepts is necessary. The majority of class time is spent learning methods for conveying information to others. Students learn how to accurately describe first aid techniques and how to help others prepare for skills tests and written exams.
  
  

Employment

• After certification, many first aid instructors take jobs with organizations or companies that require their employees to be proficient in first aid. YMCAs, for example, require most of their employees to be certified in first aid and CPR. Other first aid instructors take positions with the Red Cross or American Heart Association. Some schools hire first aid instructors to teach students about first aid and emergency response. The employment possibilities are vast.
  
  

Recertification

• First aid instructor certifications are only valid for a certain amount of time, usually two to three years depending on the certifying institution. After this time has passed, first aid instructors are required to become recertified. The recertification process is not as long as the initial instructor course, consisting of only an oral review and a written exam. Upon passing the written exam, the certification is valid for another three years.