Why Continuing Education Matters—And Why CPR Training Should Be Part of It

As a medical professional, continuing education isn’t optional. It’s a requirement. Doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics—all of them spend their careers learning, practicing, and updating their skills. Why? Because medicine is constantly evolving, and to provide the best care possible, they can’t rely on what they learned years ago. They need to stay current.

The same principle applies to First Aid and CPR/AED training.

Skills Fade Without Practice

Here’s something most people don’t realize: even if you learned CPR years ago, your skills don’t stay sharp forever. Studies show that CPR skills begin to fade within just a few months of training. By the time two years have passed, most people forget key steps or lose confidence in their ability to act.

That’s why organizations like the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, and Health & Safety Institute all recommend renewing CPR and First Aid certifications every two years. It’s not about making you “take the same class again.” It’s about keeping your skills fresh so you can react immediately when it matters.

Emergencies Don’t Wait for Refresher Courses

Think about it this way: if you came across someone in cardiac arrest today, how confident would you be in your ability to help? Could you start compressions right away? Would you know how to use an AED without hesitation?

Emergencies don’t wait for you to “look it up” or remember the steps. They require immediate action. By keeping up with your CPR training, you’ll have the confidence to do what needs to be done in those critical first minutes.

Learning From the Professionals

Medical professionals set the example. They constantly refresh their knowledge to serve others better. That same mindset should apply to all of us. If doctors and nurses see the importance of continuing education, why shouldn’t we take the same approach when it comes to lifesaving skills?

At Downers Grove CPR Ltd., we see it all the time: students who come back every two years not just to renew their card, but to sharpen their skills and rebuild confidence. They often leave class saying, “I forgot how much I didn’t remember.” That’s not failure—that’s why retraining is so important.

Final Thought

Taking a CPR/AED or First Aid class every two years isn’t just about a piece of paper. It’s about being ready. It’s about making sure that if an emergency happens—in your workplace, at the gym, in your home—you’ll know exactly what to do.

Medical professionals commit to lifelong learning because lives depend on it. When it comes to CPR and First Aid, the same is true for all of us.