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Each year, thousands of Americans who fall victim to a heart attack die, simply because those around them do not know how to properly administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or how to use an automatic external defibrillator (AED). The American Heart Association, through its Heartsaver CPR and Heartsaver AED classes, can teach non-medical professionals the skills they need to save a life.
Basic life support and CPR are two important pieces of emergency medical care. They both play a vital role in saving someone's life but have features that differentiate them from one another.
When the heart stops pumping blood to organs such as the brain, death can occur within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be performed to keep blood circulating until a person's heart function can be restored. Certain classes, such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support, teach CPR along with advanced lifesaving techniques for medical professionals. However, basic CPR classes are intended for medical workers and laypersons, and can be lifesaving.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also know as CPR, is a procedure involving rescue breathing and chest pumps or compression to help keep oxygenated blood flowing to the vital organs. Basic CPR can be lifesaving and is taught at schools, community centers, hospitals and many other locations. Teaching a CPR class involves both lecture, demonstration and the testing of students. It's essential students learn the correct way to perform CPR in order to make it as effective as possible.
