If you’ve ever wondered whether airline pilots and flight attendants were well-trained in CPR … the answer is a resounding YES! Pilots and Flight Attendants Trained in CPR, but there are a few differences and flight attendants get much more hands on training. There are a few other differences too.

Are Pilots and Flight Attendants Trained in CPR?

You never know when or where a medical emergency may occur. CPR training is a highly sought after skill regardless of where you work, but it becomes an even more critical skill for those serving air travelers. 

In case of a medical emergency occurring in the middle of a flight, you can imagine how important it is that the flight crew be trained to perform CPR. Well-executed CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a traveler who needs to be supported until he or she can receive proper medical attention after the plane lands. 

I was on a flight recently that was about to take off when suddenly a female passenger had a seizure. Ground medics were called in immediately to attend to the patient and escort her to receive the medical attention she needed. Had that emergency occurred in the air, the flight crew would have needed to respond effectively in order to sustain the patient until landing.

Flight Attendants and CPR

Flight attendants contribute to passenger safety, along with other members of any flight crew. It’s healthy for flight crew members, including flight attendants, to nurture a hope that they’ll never need to use their CPR skills, but it’s more important that they are trained to respond appropriately if the need ever arises. 

Do Flight Attendants Know CPR?

Since December 2004, Flight attendants are required to learn first aid and CPR. They may learn these life-saving skills in flight attendant training school, but can also learn them from the Red Cross, at community classes, or from other first aid/CPR education providers. Flight attendants typically renew this training every six months to a year.  

Are Flight Attendants Trained in CPR?

Flight attendants receive not only training from their airline employer, but they are also required to receive first aid and CPR training. Flight attendants need to be certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before being able to go on duty. Flight attendants typically renew this training every six months to a year.

Are Flight Attendants CPR-certified?  

Since December 2004, anyone serving as a flight attendant aboard an aircraft must hold a Certificate of Demonstrated Proficiency (CDP certificate) issued by the FAA. Airlines make it a regular practice to oversee periodic first aid and CPR drills in order to test their crews’ emergency readiness. Flight attendants typically renew their medical training every six months to one year.

What Medical Training do Flight Attendants Have?

Cabin flight crew members are trained in advanced first aid as well as aviation medicine. They must re-certify via yearly exams to show their aptitude for these skills. Flight attendants typically renew their medical training every six months to one year.

Are Flight Attendants Trained for Medical Emergencies?

Flight crew members are trained to provide advanced first aid and some limited medical assistance, but are not necessarily qualified to deal with every single emergency situation. Airlines implement their own procedures in order to deal with all possible onboard medical emergencies.

Do Flight Attendants Have to Know First Aid?

Flight attendants are required to be certified to perform first aid on a passenger in case of an emergency. This is to help sustain the passenger in a stable condition until the plane lands and expert medical personnel can attend to the patient. Flight attendants are required to be able to perform this type of medical assistance, even if it has been determined that the patient is deceased. Flight attendants are subsequently required to fill out a medical report if they are required to perform first aid and/or CPR.

What Do Flight Attendants Do For a Medical Emergency?

If an in-flight medical emergency occurs, trained crew members (usually flight attendants) will ask if any passengers onboard have medical training and advise officials of the emergency. They are also trained to intervene with their first aid and CPR knowledge to provide care to the traveler in need.

Airline Pilots and CPR

Airline pilots are not required to train in CPR and first aid, though many airline pilots are former members of the military, and may have trained in first aid and CPR. They may not, however, stay up to date with their medical skills training. First aid and CPR training are readily accessible for airline pilots.

Do Pilots Know CPR?

Airlines do not typically require their pilots to train in CPR and first aid as a matter of course. Many airline pilots are former members of the military and may have trained in first aid and CPR, though they may not keep their medical skills certification current. CPR and first aid training are privately available for airline pilots.

Are Pilots Trained in CPR?

Possibly. Many airline pilots are former members of the military (or they may be on reserve status), so they MAY be trained in first aid and CPR, like flight attendants are. They are not generally required to receive such training in order to perform their duties. If a pilot is trained in first aid and CPR, he or she may or may not keep their medical skills certification current. CPR and first aid training are readily available for airline pilots.

Are Pilots CPR-certified?

They may or may not be. Most airlines do not consider first aid and CPR training critical skills for their pilots. Airline pilots are former members of the military and may be trained in first aid and CPR. This does not mean necessarily that they keep up with their medical skills certification, though they may choose to. CPR and first aid training are privately available for interested airline pilots.

So, Are Pilots and Flight Attendants Trained in CPR?

The Federal Aviation Administration requires flight crew members (i.e., flight attendants) to remain regularly certified in advanced first aid and CPR practices in order to help guarantee necessary safety for their passengers. They are regularly tested and need to re-certify every six months to one year. 

Airline pilots are rarely, if ever, required to certify in this type of medical training as part of their job duties. Many airline pilots are former members of the military and may have received this type of training at some point in their careers, though they may not necessarily keep up with this training. It never hurts for an airline pilot to be trained in this sort of medical administration.

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