CPR Training From the Red Cross and the American Heart Association

Answer this question if you can. What is the one type of training that is required for nearly every profession? Teachers have to have it, lifeguards have to have it, most companies provide it for their employees, and these days, even babysitters are trained in it. Did you figure it out yet? Yes, you are right! It's CPR training.

CPR training, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, dates all the way back to 1740, when the Paris Academy of Sciences began recommending mouth to mouth resuscitation for drowning victims. Today, CPR classes are offered by the American Heart Association, the Red Cross, and many other licensed training organizations.

When you take a CPR course, an instructor will cover topics such as how to identify when you should perform CPR, the steps you should take before performing CPR, and how to perform CPR. Depending on the course you take, you will learn different techniques for performing CPR on infants, children, adults, and those who are disabled. Not only will you learn the process for performing CPR, you will also do practice tests on manikins.  

Many courses also involve first aid training, as well as training in the use of AED machines, or automatic external defibrillators. This is a machine that can be used to restart a stopped heart, and when used in combination with CPR, can greatly improve a person's chance of survival. AEDs are beginning to be seen in more and more public places, including in schools, in recreation centers, and in most city buildings.

CPR training instructors most often hold certifications from either the Red Cross or the American Heart Association, and must continually meet guidelines established for instructors. Many are also medical professionals, and continue to receive training and education on the latest CPR research and advancements. Finding a licensed CPR instructor is as easy as going to the Red Cross or American Heart Association websites, and clicking on the links that connect instructors with students.

Immediate use of CPR can double and sometimes triple the survival chances of someone who is in cardiac arrest. Knowing how to perform CPR, and being willing to step in during an emergency situation, can help you save the life of someone who is in cardiac arrest. So be a hero, and sign up for a CPR training.