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CPR & First Aid Courses

The American Red Cross has been a leader in national and international disaster relief and CPR and first aid. The emergency response organization offers training courses for those with a personal interest in either CPR or first aid, or those seeking certification for employment.

  1. Definition

    • Practice mannequins for CPR

      Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a method of resuscitating an injured person by keeping his blood and air circulating until the authorities arrive. First aid can also be used to help treat severe injuries like breaks, chemical burns or head injuries. These methods, however, require more specialized training

    American Red Cross

    • American Red Cross symbol

      The American Red Cross is the largest operation in charge of CPR and first-aid training, providing individuals with the skills needed to respond with confidence in a variety of situations. According to the American Heart Association, "Death from sudden cardiac arrest is not inevitable. If more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved."

    CPR

    • A classroom for teaching first aid

      CPR uses a series of steps to help someone in need. In Step 1, you check on an individual's safety and consciousness. Next, call 911. If there is no sign of blood circulation, administer 15 chest compressions by carefully pressing in on the victim's sternum. Administer two breaths by holding the nose closed and breathing into the mouth. Repeat these steps until the person becomes conscious or authorities arrive. If someone is choking and conscious, preform the Heimlich maneuver.

    First Aid

    • First aid kit

      Those trained in first aid by the American Red Cross may be able to help someone who has suffered an injury and is conscious. Tourniquets can be applied for extreme bleeding or make-shift braces made for bone breaks. The responder would have to keep the victim's head steady in the event of a head injury.

    Training

    • Training is available at local chapters of the Red Cross. These can be found by visiting the Red Cross website and typing in a zip code. Training is offered at different times to accommodate most people. Some online courses are available as well. CPR courses last about three hours and first-aid classes approximately two hours. Most employers cover the cost of the courses. As of May 2010, courses cost about $40, but fees can vary. CPR certification requires yearly renewal, and first-aid certification lasts for three years.

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