Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a combination of chest compressions and breathing that help revive and/or buy time for a person believed to be in cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association. Many organizations throughout the country offer courses in CPR, both online and in person, but the American Red Cross is one of the best known sources for CPR training.
Three Emergency Action Steps
A CPR training course from the American Red Cross will help students learn the three steps they should follow in an emergency, according to the Red Cross. These steps include calling 911 after checking for victim responsiveness, giving the victim mouth-to-mouth breathing after tilting the head back and pumping the chest 30 times at the rate of 100 pumps per minute, according to the University of Washington.
Four Life-Threatening Conditions
A CPR training course from the American Red Cross will also teach students to check for four life-threatening conditions before performing CPR. These conditions include: unconsciousness, lack of or difficulty in breathing, lack of pulse and severe bleeding, according to the State of Connecticut's First Aid Guidelines.
Use of an AED
Now that there are AEDs available in many public locations throughout the country, such as airports, restaurants, hotels and shopping malls, many American Red Cross CPR classes now also teach the basics of AED use. Many AED devices instruct the user to either give the victim a shock or perform CPR, and manufacturer directions posted on the devices should be followed, according to the Red Cross.
Other Components
According to the American Red Cross, a Red Cross CPR class will also include tips on how to recognize a heart attack, how to use basic precautions with victims, how to care for both a conscious and unconscious victim, and how to follow a chain of survival for a cardiac victim.
Where and How to Take A Class
Most American Red Cross chapters now offer training classes at their facilities. Many offer workplace programs for groups of 10 or more, where a trained instructor will schedule a time to come to your place of employment. Online classes are also available. According to the Red Cross, class times are convenient--they are often offered on evenings and weekends--and because the Red Cross is a nonprofit organization, rates are reasonable. Many course materials are also available in Spanish.
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