Social work encompasses many roles, all of which aim to enhance and maintain the well-being and basic needs of people and their communities. It’s a challenging job, and there’s a lot of love, care, and training that goes into it. The lives and stories of the people you work with may move or inspire you, but one thing is for certain—you’re there to protect, support, and care for the people that need it the most.

As a social worker, you interact with, engage with, and care for many people every single day. While emergencies aren’t necessarily common, they are a reality all social workers need to be prepared for. For most social workers, it’s a requirement to maintain a CPR and AED certification that aligns with guidelines from the American Heart Association. Whether your job requires a certificate or not, knowing CPR is still an essential skill. This is because many social workers, especially medical social workers, help people who may struggle with self-advocacy and care, such as children, seniors, or people with varying physical and mental disabilities.