Lifesaver CPR Training

If someone suffers a heart attack or stops breathing, you don't have to stand by helplessly if you know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). With the proper training, you can save a life.

Description

CPR uses both rescue breathing and chest compression techniques to continue blood flow when a victim's heart has stopped. This delays permanent damage or death until a medical professional can arrive to treat the person more aggressively.

History

CPR was first recommended in 1740 by the Paris Academy of Sciences for cases of near drowning. In 1960, the American Heart Association (AHA) developed standard CPR techniques to teach doctors.

Classes

You can be certified in CPR from the Red Cross by taking classes that last just a few hours. Training usually involves practice on a lifelike human dummy.

AED

To increase your effectiveness in reviving a victim, you can learn to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), which has pads that are placed on the victim's chest to shock the heart back into a regular rhythm.

Effectiveness

According to the AHA, CPR can double a victim's survival chances. Otherwise, those chances fall by 7 to 10 percent for every minute the heartbeat is not restored. (See Resources.)

References

• American Heart Association: CPR
• AHA: CPR History
• American Red Cross: Classes in CPR, AED

Resources

• CPR Statistics

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