Quizzes
CPR Training and You
Should I get CPR training?
Yes, you should get CPR training! Every year, thousands of people have a cardiac arrest. This is when the heart stops beating. It happens at home or in other places outside of a hospital. Most people who have cardiac arrest die before they reach the hospital, but CPR can greatly increase their chances of surviving. Unfortunately, few people who have cardiac arrest outside of a hospital get CPR. If you know CPR, you can help save a life.
You may not want to do CPR because you are afraid of or uncomfortable with the rescue breathing (sometimes called mouth-to-mouth). The American Heart Association (AHA) has found that chest compressions only works just as well as chest compressions with rescue breathing. This is called hands-only or compression-only CPR. Hands-only CPR is 2 simple steps: Call
Where to get CPR training
You can take a CPR training class online or in your area. To find a class:
-
American Heart Association or 800-AHA-USA-1 (800-242-8721)
-
American Red Cross, 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or your local Red Cross office
Other courses
Both the AHA and the American Red Cross offer many different first aid and CPR classes. Contact your local hospital because they have regular education and training opportunities such as:
-
Infant CPR
-
Child CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator)
-
Adult CPR with breaths
-
Hands-only CPR, also called chest compression-only CPR and using an AED
-
How to help a choking adult, child, or baby
-
CPR refresher
-
Babysitter or caregiver courses
Online Medical Reviewer: Maryann Foley RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Turley Jr PA-C