American Heart Association CPR Class Description

The American Heart Association offers classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Many different types of classes are offered.

Who Should Attend

• All teenagers and adults should attend a CPR class. The American Heart Association reports that "about 80% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in private residential settings, so being trained to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one." Separate classes are offered for health care professionals, those in other types of workplaces, and the general community based on the types of emergencies they are likely to encounter.

Basic Description

• CPR is performed differently on infants, children, and adults. Some classes cover only one of these three age groups while other classes cover all three. Most classes also cover choking.

What to Expect

• While attending class, expect to watch videos, listen to your instructor, and practice CPR on dummies. You will have to complete a skills test and a written test to receive a CPR certification card.

Time Commitment

• Some classes require you to read about CPR before the class begins. This can be done online or in a book provided by the American Heart Association. Each class is two to three hours.

Find a Class

• To find a CPR class, visit the Class Connector Page of the American Heart Association Website (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012360).