As a security guard, your job is to keep people safe and de-escalate potentially hazardous situations. However, mishaps can happen under even the most watchful eyes, which means a competent security guard should be able to recognize when CPR is needed and to perform CPR correctly.
Learn more about the requirements for First Aid, AED & CPR certification for security guards – then get started with your certification online!
Security guard certification requirements vary depending on whether they are armed or unarmed and the age of victims, and may include CPR and First Aid certification.
Security guards need to be aware of the regulations in their state regarding CPR certification depending on whether they are armed or unarmed. Employers may also have additional requirements related to first aid and CPR, and security guards should be sure to obtain certification for CPR and first aid that is specific to the age group they are responsible for. Additionally, security guards should be confident in their capabilities to de-escalate dangerous situations and intervene when necessary.
Being a security guard is a role that comes with a great deal of responsibility. In fact, according to a 2017 study, the simple presence of a security guard can have a significant impact on reducing crimes and antisocial behavior.
As part of their working responsibilities, security guards are responsible for keeping the peace, noticing signs of problems before they escalate, de-escalating situations, and intervening when problems break out. If something goes wrong, a competent security guard should know how to handle an emergency and sustain life until emergency personnel arrive.
There are two categories of security guards – and the category you fall into will determine the regulations you need to follow with regard to completing your CPR certification. Security guards are either armed or unarmed.
If a security guard is not carrying a weapon (unarmed), there aren’t any state or federal regulations and you will need to check with your employer to determine your CPR certification requirements.
If a security guard is carrying a weapon, the regulation of armed security guards falls to the state. As an armed security guard, you will need to know and abide by both your state and employer regulations for CPR certification.
Your employer may also have requirements related to first aid, so many security guards choose to complete a CPR and First Aid training and certification program.
Additionally, CPR and First Aid skills vary depending on the age of the victim. If you are serving as a security guard in a place where children are often present, your employer will likely require you to know how to safely administer CPR for infants and children.
As the watchful eyes of communities and groups, security guards are expected to be vigilant observers and confident rescuers. To be a proficient rescuer in any situation – whether it be cases of cardiac arrest, allergic reaction, head injury, or something else entirely – security guards ought to earn their CPR and First Aid certifications specific to the age groups they watch over.
Security guards are not considered emergency responders, even if they are the first person to notice a problem, but they still need to be trained in proper CPR and First Aid so that they can sustain life until emergency personnel arrive. Because of this, you will likely be asked to complete a CPR and First Aid course. This is your course content requirement. Be sure to select a CPR certification for security guards that specifically includes adult CPR and First Aid skills training.
Most likely, as a security guard your requirements for learning and performing CPR will state that you need to complete a CPR certification program, but that a hands-on portion is not required. This is your course delivery modality requirement. If you do not need to complete a hands-on portion, you can complete a fully online CPR program.
Finally, your state or employer may have specific course brand requirements. Some employers require that your CPR training for security guards come from a specific brand; others don’t have brand-specific requirements and allow you to complete your training with flexible online providers like ProTrainings.
There may be specific CPR certification requirements and special considerations for Security Guards performing CPR according to your state. To learn more about which requirements impact you, select your state on the map below.