Different Types of First Aid Certification

First aid is an emergency medical care that is provided by people who are trained and untrained in the medical profession. Anyone can get first aid training, and those who pass it will be a certified first aid care provider. The Internationally accepted symbol of first aid is a white cross that is placed on a green background. First aid training is generally an undervalued skill. It can be very important in life or death situations and in emergency cases, where there are no health care professionals around. It can also help to prevent further injury or harm to a person, while waiting for emergency health care services.

People who benefit most from first aid certification are people who work in industries where they are responsible for the comfort, care and well-being of individuals. These include hotel staff, airplane crew, babysitters and day-care workers etc. There are many organizations in the United States from which you can get first aid certification. You can speak to your local clinic, hospital or fire department to find out what organizations in your area offer first aid training and certification. There are some companies online that sell first aid instruction manuals. However, it is best that you first get the necessary training in person from a certified instructor, and then purchase these manuals whenever you need to refresh your memory on the different techniques.

You can take courses in order to receive first aid certification in the following:
- CPR for adults, children and infants.
- First aid basics
- First aid standard
- First aid - responding to emergencies
- Wilderness and remote first aid
- Emergency medical response
- Specialty
- Mental health first aid
- Administering emergency oxygen
- Blood borne pathogens training
- Life guarding
- Epinephrine auto-injector use
- First Responder in the workplace training
- Babysitter's training and
- Instructors certification.

All of these are different, but the basics will be the same throughout. In order to receive first aid certification, you have to complete the training of your choice successfully. The duration of first aid certification program is not same for all. Examples of some of the different first aid disciplines listed above include Wilderness First Aid certifications. This is one of the most recent types of first aid to be developed (new types of first aid are being developed and old ones improved all the time). Obviously, the types of first aid practices for the wilderness will mostly be different from the ones that are practiced in urban areas, as there are unique emergency situations in the wilderness. At present there are no universally recognized standards for wilderness first aid certification. This is an essential training, if you are a person who enjoys or leads outdoor expeditions such as camping and hiking. It is also an important first aid certification to get, if you lead groups such as boy or girl scouts.

First aid providers in the United States are regulated by the Good Samaritan Law, for as long as their treatment does not go beyond training or certification. The certification is restricted to standard life support functions that are required to sustain life. In order to be certified you will have to take courses that range from a couple of hours to several days for a combination course, or instructor and specialty courses. So it is not a huge commitment to attend these courses. Once you have been certified, it is advised that you regularly attend refresher courses (say once a year) in order to refresh and update your skills. First aid certification is also regularly required in certain professions. These include rescue divers, lifeguards, soldiers, scuba diving instructors, wilderness tour guides, sports coaches etc. But, first aid certification can also often be the first step to enter such professions, and others, including ambulance assistants and emergency care providers.