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American Red Cross CPR Information

For more than 125 years the American Red Cross' mission remains unchanged: "emergency prevention and preparedness." The healthcare and emergency workers of the American Red Cross (ARC) are always ready to help victims of traumatic events. Additionally, the ARC focuses on safety and health education. Playing a pivotal role in the development of uniform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training, the ARC makes learning this life-saving technique available to everyone.

  1. History

    • In May 1881, American Civil War nurse Clara Barton leads the way in the establishment of the modern American Red Cross. The organization creates a First Aid Department in 1910 and begins by teaching first aid courses to coal miners doing dangerous work underground in Pennsylvania.

    CPR Instruction

    • It comes as no surprise that in the 1960s and mid-70s, the Red Cross becomes a driving force in bringing CPR instruction to the American public. Working with the National Academy of Sciences and the American Heart Association to standardize CPR instruction, it becomes part of the ARC Standard First Aid class curriculum in 1976.

      As a result of the collaboration between these three major American health organizations, CPR becomes recognized as the most effective method of reviving or maintaining breath and blood flow in humans until medical help arrives.

    CPR Technique

    • The very first action recommended by the Red Cross before beginning CPR is calling 9-1-1 for emergency medical assistance. Only after making that call or instructing someone else to make it, do you begin CPR. Of course if you have no access to a phone they recommend beginning CPR immediately.

      The two major components of CPR are mouth-to-mouth breathing and chest thrusts or compressions. The ARC official breathe-to-compression ratio is 30-compressions to 2-breathes.

    Compression-Only CPR

    • The Red Cross officially recommends Compression-Only CPR for non-trained or non-certified bystanders witnessing adult cardiac arrest. This technique requires giving an unconscious, non-breathing adult continuous chest compressions at the rate of 100 per minute. Responders continue the compressions until help arrives or the adult begins to breath. Compression-only CPR also gives bystanders reticent to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation the ability to assist adult cardiac arrest victims.

    New Technology

    • The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a new piece of emergency medical technology recently approved for layperson use. It works by using paddles to provide shocks to restart the heart. The Red Cross incorporates the use of the AED as part of its CPR training. At the same time, the ARC recognizes the need for its use by untrained bystanders. They recommend using it 'as soon as it becomes available' instead of doing manual CPR. According to the ARC, 'it will not cause additional harm and will not defibrillate (sic) unless a shockable (sic) rhythm is detected.'

    CPR Courses

    • American Red Cross local chapters all teach CPR/AED classes in-person and on-line (with an in-person test). The classes cover the use of CPR, AED and other life-threatening situations like choking. The Red Cross says, "having the confidence to act in an emergency is the biggest benefit of this training."

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