Are you a parent? Do you know CPR? If you don’t, you’re putting your children in danger. That sounds mean and scary and that’s not what I’m going for but, really, it’s the truth.

My husband is a paramedic as well as a professional firefighter. I have heard him recount story upon story regarding the importance of CPR. I am certified myself. Why? I mean, he’s a paramedic. Shouldn’t one parent in the house knowing what to do be enough? Not quite. You see, professional firefighters and paramedics often keep a unique schedule, working 24 hours at a time followed by 48 hours off. If we’ve learned anything it is that bad things only happen when FireDad is at work for 24 hours. That’s the way life works. As such, it was important for me to know what to do in the case of an emergency.

However, finding a class that also worked with our schedule was somewhat difficult for our family. The American Heart Association now wants you to know that you can learn CPR in the comfort of your own home with their program: CPR Anytime. It is a self-directed course that basically lets you learn CPR in 22 minutes. The kit comes with an inflatable and reusable mannequin as well as a DVD for instruction. They do have an infant kit (for children under the age of one) and a separate child/adult kit. (Why? CPR for infants is different than CPR for children over the age of one and adults. Important to know.) While the home kit doesn’t give you certification, the point is that the more you practice CPR, the better you will be able to handle a situation in which CPR is necessary. Practicing it a few times during a class doesn’t really give you enough to go on when a crisis situation arises.

Who would this be great for? Moms and Dads, whether you’re at home or working outside the home. If an emergency happens on your watch, knowing what to do is important. If your babysitter is not CPR certified, first off, it wouldn’t hurt you to pay for them to take the class. Second of all, a refresher with your babysitter wouldn’t hurt either. Anyone who cares for your child could benefit from using it as well as anyone who cares for an older individual. Basically, this is one thing that almost anyone could benefit from as keeping your family and friends safe in an emergency is usually a beneficial thing!

You can learn more about the kits at the American Heart Association’s website. The FireFamily gives this a full endorsement. Do it. Now.

[Thanks to Mom Central for including us in this important blog tour.]