Why Pole Teachers should have their First Aid & CPR certification

Let's start by telling you what a First Aid and CPR/AED certification is.

First Aid is immediate emergency care given to an injured person and CPR/AED stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an automated external defibrillator (AED) training.

In Canada, there are many different companies that offer First Aid and CPR/AED courses online and in-person. In case of emergencies, this is a great certification to have, and oftentimes insurance companies require it. 

Pole is a high-risk sport and you never know what could happen at a studio or during a private session at your home. Safety is our number one priority as Pole Teachers. We need to take every step to avoid or minimize injury.

Being certified in First Aid and CPR/AED gives you the basic knowledge to provide an injured student help as their first responder before calling 9-1-1. It's also good to have even if you're a student and not teaching pole.  

How to prepare for emergency situations? Plan for them! Get your certification, know where the First Aid kit and AED are located in the building and practice your CPR skills to feel confident if a real-life situation were to happen.

All pole studios should have an AED onsite, or in the same building. AEDs are basically idiot-proof nowadays so all you have to do is press the "on" button and follow their instructions. They are life savers! 

When you're a brand new Pole Teacher, if your studio requires you get certified in First Aid and CPR/AED, they will generally give you 90 days to complete the certification and/or can offer to cover all or some of the costs of the course.

*Side note: If you're an Independent Contractor at your studio, keep your receipts since this is a business expense!