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Red Cross CPR Rules

The Red Cross' rules for cardiopulmonary resuscitation change from year to year. With new medical advances, the manner in which CPR is administered is becoming more effective and well-defined, meaning you have to be re-certified every year. It has also been determined by the Red Cross that automatic emergency defibrillator training needs to be included in any CPR class. Both classes can be combined and taught in just a few hours.

  1. Be Prepared

    • Cardiac arrest can happen any time, anywhere, to anyone. A prepared person will be trained in CPR, AED, First Aid and emergency procedures. If an AED machine is not readily available, manual CPR methods alone can be performed on the victim.

    Be Updated

    • Be familiar with Red Cross CPR changes. For example, latest 2010 updates are that chest compressions are much more important than mouth-to-mouth breaths to the victim. Current Red Cross instructions require two breaths per every 30 chest compressions instead of two per every 15 chest compressions. One hundred chest compressions per minute are required. It has also been determined that if the CPR administrator is uncomfortable with mouth-to-mouth breathing, chest compressions alone are much more important and can be done exclusively.

    Be Calm

    • How you react to the situation can lessen panic and confusion among the bystanders and family members. Remain calm and positive as you move quickly to assist the victim. Determine the course of action and apply necessary measures as fast as possible--every second counts.

    Delegate

    • If there are two of you when a cardiac emergency occurs, send the other person for help. If there are more than two people on location, one goes for help, one administers the mouth-to-mouth breaths, and the third applies chest compressions. Teamwork in an emergency situation can often make the difference between life and death.

    Be Flexible

    • Remember, the rules for administering CPR are different for adults, children and infants. When attending training classes, make sure that you understand the different techniques used. The Red Cross considers children to be from one to 12 years old and infants to be under one year old. If the age of the victim is unknown, make a quick determination based on body build and size.

    Be Safe

    • In the use of an AED machine, remember to back off from the victim when applying shock. Do not let assistants, bystanders, or family members near the body as they may be shocked also. Make sure that there is no metal on or near the victim.

    Summary

    • Understanding updated CPR rules, keeping a calm demeanor, delegating effectively, and applying safety measures can be critical to the victim's care. The more knowledgeable and prepared you are in an emergency, the higher the chances of a cardiac victim's survival.

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