Retired fire captain makes CPR training free online

Wayne Bennett, a retired Southern California fire captain, has made his online CPR and First Aid training free to the public through Online CPR Skills. The move lowers the cost barrier to emergency preparedness while keeping a $29.95 two-year certification for people who need proof for work or school.

Why it matters: - Online CPR Skills removes a cost barrier for people who want to learn CPR, AED use and First Aid basics. - The change could expand access to emergency preparedness for parents, neighbors, teenagers and other members of the public. - School districts still get flexible training options that can help reduce scheduling conflicts and improve compliance.

What happened: - Wayne Bennett, a retired Southern California fire captain and 34-year veteran of emergency preparedness, announced that his online CPR and First Aid training is now free to the general public. - The free training is available at onlineCPRskills.com. - People who need official proof of certification for employment can still buy a two-year certificate for $29.95. - Bennett is the owner of Disaster Survival Skills and has more than 30 years of experience as an American Heart Association certified instructor.

The details: - The platform was originally developed in 2020 to help school districts maintain compliance during the pandemic. - Online CPR Skills offers three training pathways for schools. - Fully online training is designed for self-paced community learning and staff recertifications. - Hybrid learning combines online instruction with hands-on skills verification. - Traditional in-person training remains available for instructor-led classroom CPR and First Aid instruction. - The company says school districts using the hybrid and online models report higher compliance rates, easier administrative tracking and fewer classroom disruptions. - The free training covers CPR, AED use and First Aid basics. - The $29.95 certification is described as a 2-year card required by many workplaces, coaches and educators.

Between the lines: - The move positions Online CPR Skills as both a public-service resource and a certification provider. - Free access may broaden the audience for basic lifesaving instruction, while the paid certificate keeps the business model in place for users who need credentials. - The school-district focus suggests Bennett is targeting both individual learners and institutional compliance needs. - Bennett said knowledge should not be locked behind a paywall when lives are on the line.

What's next: - Online CPR Skills is directing people to onlineCPRskills.com for free training and information on school district compliance programs. - The company will continue offering online, hybrid and in-person options for schools and other organizations. - Bennett’s contact information and the company’s social channels remain available for inquiries, including its YouTube channel.

The bottom line: - The new pricing makes basic CPR training free for the public while preserving a low-cost certification path for people who need formal proof of completion.