|  | Public Health Safety | CPR

American Red Cross CPR First Aid Training

The American Red Cross is an internationally recognized organization that provides public health and safety classes in such areas as CPR and first aid. For many jobs in the United States, CPR and first aid certification are required.

  1. Training Courses

    • The most basic health and safety course offered by the Red Cross is first aid. In a first aid course, you will learn things like how to splint broken bones, how to approach an injured person and how to treat cuts, wounds and burns. CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a technique that uses chest compressions to aid blood flow to the heart for people suspected to be victims of cardiac arrest.

      In addition to these two basic courses in first aid and CPR, you can also become certified in infant and child CPR or learn how to use an AED, automated external defibrillator. An AED is an electronic device that delivers shock treatment in an effort to regularize heart rhythm. Often, when you take a CPR class, you can add on AED certification for a small extra fee.

    Training Delivery

    • CPR and first aid training courses can be taken at your local Red Cross community center, on site at the workplace at the request of an employer, or online in some cases. You can get your first aid certification entirely online, and you can do your CPR certification through a combination of online and in-person components. All training courses end with a multiple-choice examination, and most courses require a skills session where your instructor will watch you complete the required skills.

    Certification Validity

    • In the United States, American Red Cross CPR certification is valid for one year. First aid certification is valid for three years. If your certification is current, you can request to renew your certification through a renewal course or a skills challenge. These options are less time-consuming and less expensive than taking the entire hands-on course again. If you earned your CPR or first aid certification at a Red Cross chapter in another country, it will not be valid in the United States.

    Training Cost

    • Training costs vary by medium, local chapter and course. As of 2010, the Oregon Pacific Chapter was offering combined CPR/AED and first aid for $40 and a CPR/AED review for $25. Often, you can save on your CPR and first aid training by taking combined classes or taking your classes online.

    Training Languages

    • In the United States, training courses are offered in both English and Spanish. Spanish classes are not available at all locations, so if you are interested in taking a first aid or CPR class in Spanish, it's best to contact your local chapter to see if any Spanish language instructors work with that community center. If you are an employer and would like to hire a Spanish language instructor to train your employees in CPR and first aid, you can contact your local chapter and ask to arrange a training session.

CPR - Related Articles