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FAQs:
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique that's useful in many emergencies, such as a heart attack or near drowning, in which someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. The American Heart Association recommends starting CPR with hard and fast chest compressions.
Where to Get CPR Training?
The AHA CPR Certification is more widely accepted by healthcare professionals as it is considered slightly more extensive as well as more challenging. While the Red Cross allows an 80% or higher on their exams as passing, the AHA requires a score of 84% or greater. The AHA certifies their students for two years whereas the Red Cross certification is good for one or two years, depending on the level of CPR certification.
How Much Does CPR Training Cost?
CPR training cost ranges from $14 to $100, depending on the CPR training provider and type of CPR class.
1. Adult CPR: The average training cost of individual CPR training is $20-$55.
2. Pediatric CPR: The average cost of Pediatric CPR training is $25-$40.
3. CPR & First Aid Training: The average cost is $40-$60 per person.
4. Basic Life Support Classes for Healthcare Providers: The average cost is about $60 to $80.
5. Group CPR training costs $35-$45 per person. $280-$320 minimum fee for a class of 8 trainees.
How Long/Hours Does CPR Training Take?
Most CPR certification classes take only a few hours to complete. During the class, you will learn how to perform CPR for Adults, children, and Infants. You will also learn how to identify and assess medical emergencies and receive the skills to respond with action instead of fear. Classes can be done through in-person skills session, where an instructor will go through the information and helps facilitate the simulations and hands-on training. There are also online training programs available which are normally more affordable than in-person sessions. In addition, you don’t need to worry about your transportation costs and lodging because the classes can be completed virtually, at your own pace. Regardless of your reason for taking the course, CPR online courses teach valuable skills and lifesaving procedures that can make a difference between life and death. Nonetheless of how much this type of training costs, being in an emergency situation and not knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation could cost you more.
What is the Most Common Reason CPR is Needed?
CPR is needed if a person is unconscious, not breathing, or breathing abnormally. Critical components of a high-quality CPR include the following
1. Minimize interruptions in chest compressions
2. Provide chest compressions of adequate depth and rate
3. Do not lean on the victim between compressions
4. Ensure proper hand placement
5. Avoid excessive ventilation
Who Can Perform CPR?
According to the AHA, CPR techniques differ depending on the level of training an individual has:
Trained Healthcare Providers
- Conventional CPR consists of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing at a ratio of 30:2 compressions-to-breaths.
- For an average adult victim, rescuers should perform chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute and not more than a depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm).
General Public or Bystanders
- Compression-only/hands-only CPR without mouth-to-mouth (rescue) breaths is recommended to use when you see a teen or an adult suddenly collapse in an out-of-hospital setting (home, work, or a park).
- Compression-only/hands-only CPR consists of two easy steps:
- Call an emergency medical service
- Push hard, fast, and firm in the center of the chest (between the nipples)
What is the Correct Position for CPR?
Position yourself so your shoulders are directly above your hands. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches) on their chest. Keeping your hands on their chest, release the compression and allow their chest to return to its original position.
Which Side of the Chest is Used for CPR?
Kneel next to the person. Use your fingers to locate the end of the person's breastbone, where the ribs come together. Place two fingers at the tip of the breastbone. Place the heel of the other hand right above your fingers (on the side closest to the person's face). Stack your other hand on top of the one that you just put in position.
What Does ABCD Stand for in CPR?
The Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE) approach is a systematic approach to the immediate assessment and treatment of critically ill or injured patients. The approach is applicable in all clinical emergencies. It can be used in the street without any equipment (Figure 1) or, in a more advanced form, upon arrival of emergency medical services, in emergency rooms, in general wards of hospitals, or in intensive care units.
The aims of the ABCDE approach are:
- to provide life-saving treatment
- to break down complex clinical situations into more manageable parts
- to serve as an assessment and treatment algorithm
- to establish common situational awareness among all treatment providers
- to buy time to establish a final diagnosis and treatment.
What are the Risks of CPR?
Here are some risks of CPR:
- If you have a serious illness, CPR is unlikely to be helpful – less than 1% of people with a serious illness survive after having CPR.
- Lack of oxygen, while CPR is performed, can cause significant injury to the brain or other organs. This can leave individuals depending on others for care or in a persistent vegetative state.
- CPR can break ribs and cause severe pain.
- Survivors likely face a long hospital stay and rehabilitation.
- Complications of intubation and ventilation include damage to the teeth, voice box, or lungs, pneumonia or other infections, and collapsed lungs.
- Family members and loved ones of patients, who are admitted to the intensive care unit on a ventilator, are more likely to develop PTSD.
The Impact of CPR
The impact of CPR on emergency medicine cannot be overstated. In addition to improving survival rates for individuals who experience cardiac arrest, CPR has also been used to save the lives of individuals who experience drowning, drug overdoses, and other medical emergencies. In addition to its life-saving benefits, CPR has also had a significant impact on public health education. In many countries, including the United States, CPR training is mandatory for certain professions, such as healthcare providers and emergency responders. In addition, many schools and community organizations also offer CPR training to the general public, which has helped to increase awareness and preparedness for medical emergencies.
10 Reasons Why it’s Important to Learn CPR
When a person’s heart stops beating or the person stops breathing, death can occur within minutes. CPR can help save lives and minimize the damaging effects that can occur while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
1. CPR Saves Lives!
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to people at any time or place. Victims of SCA must be treated immediately. If CPR is performed immediately, it can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
2. CPR Protects from Brain Death
During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs. With a decrease in blood flow to the brain, the victim falls unconscious. The brain can suffer damage in as few as three minutes without proper blood flow. After nine minutes without blood flow to the brain, there can be irreversible damage. CPR helps to keep blood flowing and may help minimize the damage to the victim.
3. You’ll Know What to do During a Cardiac Emergency
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is witnessed by a bystander in approximately 37% of cases. That bystander could be you! Being trained in CPR provides the knowledge, confidence and skills to stay calm in a medical emergency and help a person in need. Individuals certified in CPR are prepared to make a difference in their community by being ready to jump into action anywhere a cardiac arrest happens.
4. Every Minute Counts in an Emergency
With any medical emergency, every second counts. Victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest require immediate CPR to prevent damaging effects from lack of blood flow to the brain, heart, lungs, and other organs. CPR can help increase the victim’s chance of survival.
5. Faster Recovery for the Victim
When a person suffers SCA and receives early CPR, they have a higher survival and recovery rate. CPR can help restore breathing and blood flow, aiding in the person’s recovery. In some cases, the victim may return to life with minimal side effects after receiving high-quality CPR.
6. CPR Makes Home Safer for Everyone
The most recent data suggest that 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, with the vast majority of the victims dying before help arrives. That’s 250,000 lives lost each year in American homes, which is equivalent to one-third of the population of Seattle, WA. Learning CPR can empower you to take action and provide aid when and where a loved one needs it most.
7. CPR Makes School Safer for Kids
On any given day, 20% of the U.S. population can be found in school. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses. 1 in 25 US high schools can expect to have an SCA event each year. While an SCA emergency may not occur on your campus this year or next year… the data shows that it will eventually happen. Many states require schools to train teachers and students in CPR prior to their high school graduation. It’s always best to be prepared, learn CPR!
8. CPR Makes Work Safer
There are about 10,000 cardiac arrests in the workplace each year in the United States. Workplace safety is vital for any business. Numerous companies are now training employees in CPR to ensure help is available in the office if a Sudden Cardiac Arrest should occur. When workers have First Aid and CPR training, they help reduce workplace accidents and can even save lives at work. Investing in CPR training for employees shows workers that the company cares about their health and well-being.
9. You May Learn How to Use an AED During a CPR Class
Many CPR classes include AED training. AED shock delivery is a key link in the chain of survival. AEDs are specifically designed to be easy to use but training can provide additional confidence and potentially save precious moments in an emergency.
10. Anyone Can Learn CPR
Fortunately, there are only a few simple things you need to remember in order to recognize SCA and save a life. There are quick and inexpensive CPR classes throughout the United States.
Types of CPR Training
If you are thinking of taking a CPR/AED class, the first thing you need to look at is the type of training you are looking for. In general, institutions like American Red Cross offer many CPR training classes that follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Some of those are:
1. Adult CPR:
This is the simplest form of CPR, and it can be learned in less than an hour. It covers basic techniques for adults, teens, and children, eight years and older. It is good for those who want a general knowledge of CPR or care for an elderly adult. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training can also be included in the CPR learning course.
2. Pediatric CPR Classes:
Pediatric CPR certification online is recommended for childcare providers for children under the age of eight. Because young children are more delicate, a particular technique is needed while performing CPR. For example, when performing chest compression, you should be sure not to tilt the child’s head too far back and use only one hand or even your fingers.
3. CPR & First Aid Training:
Some CPR classes will include first aid training and certification. If you choose to take this type of course, in addition to CPR, you will learn how to handle victims during the casualty, trauma or bleeding, or burns and can even assist a choking person. AED training is often included as well.
4. Basic Life Support Classes for Healthcare Providers
These CPR classes are required for all healthcare professionals and emergency medical personnel. The course covers training in AED or common ventilation devices. If you are planning a career in the healthcare industry, these classes are a must.
5. Workplace CPR training:
Healthcare institutions and organizations may offer CPR training to employees for emergency preparedness and to meet OSHA safety requirements. The training is usually done in groups, and the cost may vary based on the specific course content and materials used. Group training required a minimum number of participants. The more participants in the group training, the higher the cost of CPR training.
When to Use CPR and When Not to
Use CPR when an adult is not breathing at all. For a child or infant, use CPR when they are not breathing normally. Always use CPR if the adult or child is not responding when you talk to them or tap them. If someone is not breathing, giving CPR can ensure that oxygen-rich blood reaches the brain. This is important, as without oxygen, someone can sustain permanent brain damage or die in under 8 minutes.
A person might need CPR if they stop breathing in any of the following circumstances:
- a cardiac arrest or heart attack
- choking
- a road traffic accident
- near-drowning
- suffocation
- poisoning
- a drug or alcohol overdose
- smoke inhalation
- electrocution
- suspected sudden infant death syndrome
Only perform CPR if the adult is not breathing, or in children and infants, when they are not breathing normally, and their blood is not circulating. This is why it is important to ensure that the person does not respond to verbal or physical calls to attention before starting the CPR process.
7 Basic Steps of CPR
According to the American Red Cross, here are the 7 steps for performing CPR:
1. Assess the situation
- Make sure the person is on a firm surface
- Tap the person on the shoulder and confirm that they need help.
2. Call for help
- Look for someone who can get an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available at the nearest emergency medical care center.
- If there is no AED available, stay with the victim and call 911.
3. Open the airway
- Lay the person on their back, and tilt their head back to lift their chin.
- Remove any obvious blockages in the mouth or nose, such as vomit, blood, food, or loose teeth.
4. Check for breathing
- Listen carefully for breathing sounds for at least 10 seconds (except for occasional gasping sounds).
- If you cannot hear breathing sounds, begin CPR.
5. Start chest compressions
- Kneel next to the person's neck and shoulders.
- Position both of your hands (lower palms) on top of each other in the middle of the person’s chest.
- Compress (push straight down) the chest at least 2 inches (5 cm) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm).
- Use your entire body weight (not just your arms) to deliver pressure at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute.
- Push hard and fast.
- Allow a few seconds after each push so that the chest springs back.
6. Deliver rescue breaths
- Tilt the person's head back, lift their chin, pinch their nose shut, and place your mouth over their mouth to make a complete seal.
- After mouth-to-mouth contact, blow to make the person’s chest rise.
- If the chest rises, deliver a second breath.
- Deliver at least two rescue breaths first, then continue compressions.
7. Continue CPR steps
- Continue with the chest compressions cycles and breathing until:
- The person exhibits signs of life, such as breathing or movement.
- An AED becomes available.
- Emergency medical services or a trained medical responder arrives on the scene and takes over.
What You Will Learn in CPR and First Aid Training
During the CPR and First Aid training program, you will learn how to deal with a wide range of medical emergencies within the community or in the workplace. Training may include the following:
1. Laws and Safety Regarding CPR
CPR/AED and First Aid courses encompass information on the role of the emergency service provider. During the online CPR training, you are taken through the signs to watch out for patients suffering from heart disease. It also entails information on how to assess unresponsive persons. The program also involves the universal precautions essential in emergencies. It trains on the importance of taking personal safety measures when attending to emergencies. You will also learn the safety measure needed to have in place, including protective barriers when attending to an emergency. These days, Online CPR certification CPR recertification classes also offer skills in the chain of survival and the Good Samaritan laws and regulations. In addition, an individual acquires skills and knowledge on how to work in a team and coordinate teams for effective delivery.
2. Knowledge of CPR and How To Learn CPR Skills
The CPR AED certification online course offers an in-depth understanding of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and its different types. People undertaking the course learn what CPR is and what it aims at achieving. It is inclusive of the concept behind the administration of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. You also attain information on how CPR saves lives by restoring breathing and blood circulation. Persons learn how to offer quality CPR to save lives. You will go through the different stages of delivering CPR like:
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How to give hands-only CPR
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How to administer the rescue operation
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How to work in a team to provide CPR
People taking online CPR training classes get the privilege to learn the different types of CPR, which are mainly dependent on the nature of the patients. You will also learn how to perform CPR on infants, children, and adults. People taking the course also know how to place unresponsive breathing persons for adequate recovery.
3. CPR to Treat Choking Victim
The CPR and First Aid training also covers treating the victim choking in both conscious and unconscious conditions. Individuals are also equipped with proficiency and aptitudes to help different choking persons such as infants, children, and adults.
4. The Use of AED
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is also part of this course. People learn the skills and knowledge of operating the device. In this course, people learn when and how to use the AED. CPR/ AED certification also entails how to use the AED tool on infants, children, and adults.
5. First Aid Training
First aid is broad as individuals learn how to handle different accidental emergencies. Persons are equipped with skills to relieve suffering and prevent further injury to the victim. It involves necessary expertise in managing different first aid situations such as hypothermia, frostbites, heat-related illness, stroke, seizure, broken bones, muscle injuries, poisoning burns, and bleeding. Persons learn effective handling of people suffering from any of the above. They also learn how to contain the conditions and offer relief to the patient. First aid training also covers dealing with injuries on different body parts depending on the severity.
What to Expect from a CPR Class
CPR classes typically start with a brief introduction to CPR guidelines. From there, you will learn how to prepare for medical emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest, choking, and strokes. It’s easy to panic in medical emergencies. CPR training gives you the tools to overcome your fear and take decisive action. Understanding the difference between these emergencies will help you feel more confident if you find yourself in a medical emergency. How long your online CPR class takes depends on how you split the curriculum. If you’re taking online classes, an effective way to split up your curriculum is to separate adult CPR, infant CPR, and children CPR.
How to Find a CPR Class
There are CPR training programs available at nearly all hospitals, ambulance services, fire departments, community health centers, and community colleges. However, just because CPR classes are available doesn't mean that they're the same. In most states, no single institution or agency accredits CPR classes.3 As such, any commercial organization or individual can provide training and issue a card or certificate saying that you are fully accredited. The problem with this is that most employers requiring CPR training will only accept accreditation from classes sanctioned by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or the National Safety Council. If uncertain, speak with your employer or union representative before enrolling in any CPR class.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a CPR Class
When choosing a CPR class, ensure that it meets your specific needs, whether they are related to your job, children under your care, or specific medical conditions for which the risk of cardiac arrest is high. In some cases, classes may be tailored to cover your interests.
In addition, do not hesitate to ask questions in advance of enrollment, especially if you have to pay. These may include:
1. Is there a test? Ideally, there should be, especially if you need a card or certificate for your employer. You also need to know what happens if you don't pass (and whether you get a free do-over or have to pay for another class).
2. How much of the class is hands-on? Ideally, most, if not all, of the class should be hands-on. There may be some video information (about statistics, laws, etc.) and take-home materials, but the point of the class is to learn by doing and not by watching.
3. Are your instructors certified? Be sure to ask by whom, and don't hesitate to ask for a copy of the certificate to check the date.
What instructional tool do you use? Even the most basic class should have an age-appropriate CPR dummy that allows you to perform chest compression. Some of the dummies will even beep or flash if you apply enough pressure. Other classes may have an AED or airway clearance dummy.
Who Should Get CPR and First Aid Training?
Healthcare providers, emergency responders, and public safety professionals aren’t the only ones required to have CPR and first aid training. Anyone can get CPR and First aid training through online courses whether you need the certification for employment requirements or you want to learn basic lifesaving skills. Police officers, security guards, nursing home employees, daycare staff, lifeguards, flight attendants, corrections officers, labor workers, and teachers are also required to have basic CPR and First aid training.
Sources:
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.
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