Page 81 - OHS, June 2020

take the online, cognitive portion of a blended learning course and giving them a “provisional certification” good for 90 days after course completion. In this provisional certification course option, the student has three months to take the in-person skills test, during which time the hope is that stay-at-home orders will be lifted.
The next phase in the roadmap is virtual training and testing. The Red Cross, the American Safety & Health Institute and the American Heart Association are all allowing the skills testing to be conducted virtually as long as the instructor can clearly see and verify the student’s psychomotor abilities.
Virtual training presents an opportunity to better align with those who may have scheduling conflicts, such as the person who may not have enough time to get to the training facility after getting off work or who have childcare concerns.
The biggest hurdle is often getting (not to mention returning) the equipment—a manikin with a feedback device that the instruc- tor can monitor as well as an AED training device—to the student.
Tracy Klinkner, owner of CPR Certified Trainer in Missouri and a Red Cross instructor, completed her first virtual class in April. The equipment was dropped off on her student’s front porch, and then she connected with the student via FaceTime to conduct the virtual class. Klinker is finding success with this option with several classes lined up. “Everyone has been so thankful this option was given to them; it’s definitely a win-win,” she said.
Thinking Ahead
While training during this time has been reduced to maintain the overall safety and well-being of employees, and only those who absolutely need it are training, workplaces will eventually open again. Public health guidelines are the starting point, but it’s up to the trainers to find and implement the most effective processes for teaching the material safely.
One training method that seems to be gaining traction in this time of distance learning is blended learning. Introduced about 10 years ago, blended learning programs offer online interactive cog- nitive education with a follow-up skills test.
In addition to being available anywhere and anytime users have access to a computer, tablet or mobile device, blended learning al- lows learners to repeatedly test knowledge at their own pace and in a variety of scenarios.
Alternatively, for those who are very familiar with the subject matter, certain Red Cross blended learning courses use adaptive learning, which allows the student to opt out of sections by demon- strating competency.
Forward-looking owners like Smith are already thinking about new approaches to training and how to incorporate methods that have demonstrated efficacy.
“One of our clients is a laboratory group that falls under OSHA requirements,” Smith said. “It’s not time for them yet, but we’ll be reaching out when certification deadlines near to provide them with options and figure out what will work best.”
It Comes Down to Adaptation
While some organizations and instructors may not be training dur- ing this time, a large majority feel that teaching lifesaving skills is es- sential and that they are making a difference. In fact, some instruc- tors would argue that now, more than ever, people need to know
Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that traditional “sit in a classroom for a day” training is not the only option.
what to do in an emergency and need to know how to save a life. Red Cross instructor Manny Perez continues to train in the Tam- pa Bay, Fla. area. “As strong a health concern that COVID-19 pres-
ents, it also opens up opportunities and changes the way we think.” Perez believes that this pandemic is forcing an opportunistic disruption among training providers, making them re-think their
models and consider new ways to interact with students.
The most successful organizations will be those that can shift and adapt their processes during this time, figuring out solutions on how to get—and keep—people trained. Certainly, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that traditional “sit in a classroom for a day” training is not the only option, and it may not be the best option go-
ing forward—even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. “There are things people can do,” Smith said. “It’s only a matter of time before safety managers say, ‘We can’t put off training for-
ever; we have to consider one of these options.’”
Dom Tolli is vice president of product development at the American Red Cross. Options for conducting first aid, CPR and AED training during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found at www.redcross.org/ workplace.
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