Health Topics for Prepare for Emergencies

Department of Emergency Medicine

Emergency Medical Services Learning Resources Center

CPR: a technique you should know

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency life-saving procedure used on someone who is not breathing and has no pulse. A trained rescuer fills the victim's lungs with air and administers chest compressions to pump blood from the heart through the body. Thousands of lives are saved each year through the timely use of CPR.

CPR is a procedure that must be properly and promptly performed until emergency medical help arrives. Certification is required to be qualified to give CPR. The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association set the standards for CPR certification. CPR classes are open to the public and are held in locations like hospitals, fire departments, and community centers.

Information is provided on how to recognize the signs of a heart attack, stroke, blocked airway, and a cardiac arrest. Classes may also include information and instructions on how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). The AED is used to give an electrical shock to restart a heart that has stopped beating normally.

Instruction is given on how to properly:

• open the airway of an unconscious person
• remove a foreign body from the airway
• restart breathing and
• give chest compressions

Instruction classes are also available for infant and child CPR. It is important that a special class be taken for these age groups because the procedures are different. Some classes combine the training for both the adult CPR and infant and child CPR certifications. CPR classes can provide you with the skills to save a life.

Even if you are not trained in CPR, you can still notify the emergency medical system that help is needed. Do this by calling 911.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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