KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

A Red Cross First Aid Certificate Was the Ticket Out of Hell for Our Grateful Client

As a teacher, you may hold the keys to a better life

It was 5:30 PM on a Saturday, and our Red Cross Emergency Child Care First Aid & CPR class had ended. The students were busy writing their tests.

Emergency Child Care First Aid is a one-day course introducing childcare workers to injury prevention skills and knowledge. Course participants learn lifesaving first aid skills and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR and AED) for babies and children.

The instructor called me over and introduced me to one of the students. She told me the woman’s practical skills were excellent. The only difficulty for her was the language barrier. The woman was struggling to understand the multiple-choice test questions.

If you are a teacher or instructor — don’t underestimate the power of the certificates you issue. They may save a life one day.

My First Aid Training agency

I run a first aid training agency offering Red Cross certification classes. Many participants are refugees or immigrants and have English as an alternate language.

With these students, I conduct one-on-one verbal tests on request. If they need help understanding a question, I explain it — without, of course, giving away the answer.

I have to be very careful and strict with this. The person I issue a certificate to may become a first aid attendant in their workplace. I must ensure they understand the required theory component.

Red Cross courses and tests are relatively easy for most people. The instructor reviews the topics covered during class before the test. Once participants understand the questions, they usually choose the correct answers.

“With this certificate, you have given me my life.”

With this particular student, I knew she would need extra help. I took her into the hallway and conducted a verbal test. She asked me to explain a few words and questions. With that additional help, she answered most of the questions correctly.

By this time, the other students had left the classroom. The woman’s friend remained, waiting with the instructor. I brought the student back into the room for the instructor to mark her test. She stood nervously by the front desk, waiting for the result.

After a minute, the instructor looked up with a smile and announced she’d passed. The woman shrieked with joy and grabbed her delighted friend. They jumped up and down together, doing a happy dance. I smiled and congratulated the student. It was heartwarming to see how much this meant to her.

When I placed the certificate in her trembling hands, she looked at it almost with disbelief. Then she broke down.

At first, she was unable to speak through her sobs, but then her story came out. She and her family had arrived in Canada as new immigrants the previous year.

Her husband was an abusive man, and she and her children were terrified of him. They lived in constant fear, enduring his physical and emotional abuse for many years.

She wanted to take her children far away from him but had no means to support herself. Because of the language barrier, she was having difficulty finding work.

Seeing her distress, a friend had offered her a possible way out. The friend owned a daycare and said she would hire this woman. However, she would need a first aid certificate to meet legal requirements.

Having this certificate meant she could earn money. She would be able to save up enough to support herself and her children and leave her abusive husband.

I will never forget the mixture of pain, relief, joy, and streaming tears on the woman’s face when she hugged me and said,

“With this certificate, you have given me my life.”

At that moment, I understood the power of certification. A piece of paper with a few choice words can unlock doors to previously inaccessible pathways.

Education broadens your horizons.

I remembered a long-ago Sunday lunch with my family. My dad was talking to me and my sisters about the importance of education. He gave the analogy of boats of different sizes in the ocean.

He said having more education is like sailing the sea in a larger vessel. Your horizon is broader, and you’ll find it easier to set sail in the right direction.

My father helped me understand the value of education. I wanted to see above the waves to that wide horizon and have choices in my life. That conversation helped convince me to take the exams I needed for university.

Stepping Stones

Certificates can be stepping stones to higher education or toward a career goal. At high school, I took O-level exams. Passing these allowed me to go on to A-level courses and then to university for my degree.

I would not have been able to go straight from high school to college. The certificates from these stepping-stone courses were my ticket to university.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X

Short-term focused training courses

Other than university degree programs, there are many other shorter-term certification courses. These help people gain skills and expertise in a specific field. The programs can last a day, a few weeks, or months. A certificate might be an essential step for a person to advance their career.

New Career Paths

Certification classes provide the opportunity to change jobs or expand your current career. If you want to work in another industry, you can take the relevant training. The certificates you earn will allow you to specialize in that field.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss

Every journey starts with the first step.

In 1998, soon after my first child was born, I decided to start a first-aid training business. I took a Standard First Aid & CPR course, followed by the Red Cross first aid instructor program. I then applied to the Self-Employment program at my local community college.

I spent the next 12 months learning from excellent instructors. They taught me everything I need to know about starting my own business.

In 1999, I launched my company, Safe + Sound First Aid Training Ltd. and we’re still going strong today. It all started with a desire to save lives and that first Red Cross certificate.

In the last 25 years, I’ve taught and organized classes for over 50,000 people in my community. That’s 50,000 people who learned how to do CPR and save a choking child, among other skills. My community is safer because of the training my company provides, and I’m proud of that.

Confidence building

Learning a new skill and earning a certificate to prove proficiency makes you feel more confident. Certificates boost self-esteem and encourage people to keep moving towards their goals.

In the Girl Guides, leaders awarded us merit badges for learning and accomplishments. These included tying knots, cooking food, making fires, and building emergency shelters. We sewed these badges onto our uniforms and tried to get as many as possible.

Outward symbols of accomplishment, like certificates and badges, give children a boost in self-esteem. They feel more confident in the skills they’ve demonstrated.

“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” — Confucius

Gain a Competitive Advantage

Showing you’ve taken the time to get training sets you apart from competitors who don’t have it. Certifications show you have committed to personal development and excelling in your profession. In today’s competitive market, this can give you a significant advantage. Training courses can be expensive, but education is a good investment.

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” — Andy McIntyre

Higher pay and better prospects

Having professional certifications increases earning potential. In a study by the Project Management Institute, certified respondents with a PMP® certification report higher median salaries than those without PMP certification. Certified individuals earned 33% higher wages on average across the 21 countries surveyed.

Professional certifications and training make you more attractive to potential or existing employers. You’re more likely to know best practices and be up-to-date with the most effective way of doing things.

You also need less on-the-job training than those without certification, which employers value. Many employers are happy to offer higher pay to candidates with specific certificates.

“If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin

Never stop learning

We can all learn new skills and update existing ones throughout our lives and careers. Doing this helps us keep up with the rapid changes in the world of work.

Specialized courses like first aid can quickly give people a specific skill set. They can start using their new knowledge and abilities immediately.

Our students say they feel more confident about helping a sick or injured person after learning first aid. Many have told us how they’ve given first aid, and some have saved lives.

Conclusions and Takeaways

Professional certifications and training are worth the time, effort, and cost. Certification programs allow you to shape and strengthen your career by providing fast and practical learning in focused areas. They help you improve your performance, gain a competitive advantage, and boost your earning potential.

The value of certifications and training depends on your unique circumstances, industry, and goals. They can be a valuable investment in your professional growth and success.

Ensure the course you plan to take aligns with your career goals. Before registering, check you have enough time and financial resources to commit.

As a teacher or instructor offering a certification, you can unlock the door to a better life for someone. You won’t always have the privilege of hearing people’s stories, but students are in your class for a reason.

The certificate you hand them might start them on the path to an exciting career. In the case of the woman who took our first aid class at the beginning of this story — a certificate was her ticket out of hell — and the key to a safer, happier life.

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