Continuing the Conversation

On ness to student a teach beautiful partner had a CPR arrived. and sunny class. I Saturday afternoon, my busiwere setting up our manikins Thirty minutes later, not one I called the person in charge, and she informed me that the students were at a different location. She immediately suggested rescheduling, but I insisted, “Give us 15 minutes and we will be there.”

We proceeded with a typical class, but one woman was especially nervous and unsure of her skills. We worked diligently with her, and she eventually performed everything correctly. As the class wrapped up, she approached me and said, “I’m here because I have to be to keep my job, but I know I’ll never be able to do this in a real emergency. I appreciate you spending so much time with me today.”

On Monday afternoon, we received a call from her. She told us that her coworker had gone into cardiac arrest at work. What did our student do? She called 911, started CPR, and saved her coworker’s life.

Twenty years into my career as a registered dental hygienist— and with ten years of CPR recertifications under my belt—I still looked forward to our biannual BLS CPR classes. Why? Because I viewed retraining as just as important as my other

clinical skills, not just something to check off a list to keep my RDH license.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a critical, life-saving skill that everyone in a dental office—and beyond—should possess. In the event of cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. In a dental office, your patients will look to you for help. You and your team need to be confident and ready to act. Regular CPR training ensures that everyone is capable of performing it correctly under pressure. Confidence comes not just from biannual recertification—but by reviewing procedures monthly.

At any moment, a loved one, coworker, or patient could experience a medical emergency. Please don’t see CPR as “just another CE requirement.”

Another essential component of emergency preparedness is having an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in your office. Yet, only a small percentage of dental offices have one. A few states mandate AEDs—but often only in practices that provide sedation.

Using a defibrillator within the first 3–5 minutes following a collapse can increase survival rates by up to 70%. Many people fear AEDs because they don’t understand how they work. However, AEDs are incredibly user-friendly. They provide step-by-step voice instructions and automatically analyze the heart’s rhythm to determine if a shock is needed.

Having an AED on-site can mean the difference between life and death.

In my 40+ years working in dental offices, I’ve encountered numerous emergencies—from fainting to projectile vomiting to a choking victim.

One day, I seated my third patient—a young woman in the final stages of pregnancy. Moments after sitting in my chair, her water broke. Chaos followed. Would you have known how to respond?

Another incident stands out: a long-time patient was checking out at the front desk. Normally calm and friendly, he became agitated with the office manager. I immediately remembered he was diabetic and suspected a blood sugar issue. I rushed to intervene before he got into his car—potentially preventing a fatal accident.

Experiences like these led me to become a certified AHA CPR instructor. Twenty-five years ago, my sister Darla and I formed CPR Sisters. At first, we expected to focus on recertifying dental staff. But our path shifted after meeting two mothers who had lost children to sudden cardiac arrest.

We redirected our mission: to raise awareness about the importance of AEDs where children gather and advocate for AEDs in all Georgia schools. We took part in a $1 million grant initiative and trained hundreds across Georgia and the Southeast. From major corporations to local softball fields, we learned the unique emergency needs of diverse industries.

To expand our impact, we became certified instructor trainers, committed to improving CPR education quality. Then the pandemic hit. Guidelines were updated, and virtual CPR training became an option.

We quickly developed an innovative virtual CPR class that includes live, hands-on skills evaluation. It was a leap of faith— and it paid off.

Virtual CPR training has proven highly effective. Students retain more, feel more confident, and benefit from extended one-on-one instructor time. They can learn at their own pace, in the comfort of their home or office, with CPR manikins, bag masks, and AED trainers.

Corporations and dental offices appreciate the convenience—no travel or time off required. It’s a low-stress learning environment that builds life-saving confidence and, ultimately, saves lives.

I urge you to ensure that everyone in your office is trained and equipped to handle emergencies. Ask yourself:

• Is everyone in your office trained in CPR?
• Do you have an emergency medical kit?
• Is it up to date—and does everyone know where it is?
• Do you have a defibrillator? Are the pads or batteries expired?
• Who is responsible for maintaining your emergency supplies?

These details matter—and they save lives.

Let’s shift the mindset. CPR and emergency training should be a “want to”—not a “have to.”

If you’d like more information about our innovative virtual CPR approach, contact us at CPRSisters@CPRSisterstraining.com

or visit www.cprsisterstraining.com.

Debora Carrier, RDH began her career in dentistry by caring for adults with developmental disabilities. As co-founder of CPR Sisters, she and her team created an innovative approach to CPR recertification.

She is also the CEO of Twice as Nice Uniforms, where she revolutionized dental attire by developing temperature-regulating uniforms that combine safety with professionalism. Debora’s journey is a testament to innovation, compassion, and a lifelong dedication to saving lives—inside and outside the dental field.