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Red Cross First Aid and CPR Certification

The American Red Cross, established in 1881, offers courses that train individuals to provide lifesaving care in the event of an emergency. Two such courses are the first aid and CPR/AED certifications. The first aid class teaches about non-cardiopulmonary injuries, while the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)/automated external defibrillator (AED) course focuses on emergencies of the heart and lung systems. Students can follow one of two course tracks: lifesaving for lay responders or lifesaving for the professional rescuer.

  1. Requirements and Class Types

    • Courses in first aid and CPR/AED are offered to all ages; however, you should not enroll in a CPR/AED certification class if you are not physically capable of assisting people in the event of an emergency. All students in the first aid and CPR/AED classes must pass a Red Cross standardized test before they are awarded a certification. In addition to classes for professional rescuers, the Red Cross tailors classes to those who may be required to help in community, workplace or wilderness emergencies.

    First Aid

    • The first aid course covers a variety of topics that pertain to providing emergency care to bodily injuries, excluding cardiopulmonary issues. For example, first aid classes teach techniques for splinting broken bones, bandaging severe lacerations (cuts) and treating burns; students spend a portion of class time practicing splinting and bandaging fellow students or volunteers. According to the participant's manual that the American Red Cross uses, students also learn how to remove unconscious or severely injured victims from potentially dangerous environments by carrying them with or without assistance.

    CPR

    • In CPR classes, students are trained to recognize the signs of a cardiopulmonary emergency. The steps for checking a victim in the CPR program involve testing for breathing, a pulse and airway constriction. Students are provided with plastic mannequins on which to practice rescue breathing and CPR. In addition, the class gives information on personal protective equipment that should be utilized during rescue to prevent the spread of disease. These techniques among others are described in detail in the participant's manual that the American Red Cross provides to people who take the class.

    AED

    • The AED portion of the CPR/AED course teaches the proper techniques for utilizing AED machines, which are often located in places where emergencies may happen, such as office buildings and areas where people tend to congregate. An AED console contains two chest pads, wires and a machine that delivers an electric charge to a victim in an attempt to restart his stopped heart. The AED course describes the situations in which AED use is appropriate, the correct positioning of the pads on a victim's chest and how to perform CPR following treatment with an AED.

    Certification

    • Once you are certified, you are able to accept a job as a professional rescuer or as a lay responder perform emergency first aid and CPR with little fear of legal repercussions. First aid certifications are valid for three years, but CPR/AED certifications need to be renewed every year. Recertification courses can be found in the same locations that teach the primary certification classes.

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