CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency first aid skill intended to provide and maintain oxygen to vital organs in individuals who have sudden cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the heart usually stops and breathing ceases. The American Heart Association estimates that 92 percent of people who experience cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital.The goal of CPR training is to decrease this statistic, thereby saving lives.
Requirements
The American Heart Association first established formal guidelines for CPR in the 1960s. There are no prerequisite requirements for basic CPR certification. The American Heart Association states that the ability to perform CPR is based more on an individual’s body strength rather than the person's age. Children as young as 9 can learn CPR. To properly perform CPR, however, you must have the ability to kneel and bend over repeatedly from the waist. You must also have the ability to perform straight-armed chest compressions until additional help arrives. The recommended rate of chest compression in CPR is 100 compressions per minute, making this a potentially strenuous task. Rescue breathing, or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, may also be required at a rate of two rescue breaths per 30 chest compressions. Rescue breaths must be of sufficient force to visibly raise the victim’s chest.
Categories of CPR
There are two primary categories of CPR training: basic and advanced. BLS, or Basic Life Support training, is available to any interested individual through a variety of community resources. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, or ACLS, is designed specifically for professional health care providers who work in an emergency or critical-care setting. A written and a practical skills test must be successfully completed to be certified in either category of CPR training. BLS training typically takes four hours to complete. Certification is valid for two years from the date of issuance.
Additional Information and Resources
Certain employers such as fire departments and school systems require CPR training and certification. Many day care centers require infant and pediatric CPR certification for their workers. Health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics require their employees to hold current CPR certification. Employers often offer this training at no cost to their employees. The American Red Cross provides non-certified training in CPR to anyone interested in learning the basic skills. Both the American Heart Association and The American Red Cross offer classes in English and Spanish. You can find additional information, including classes being offered in your area, by accessing the websites of the American Heart Association of the Red Cross.
