Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure performed when a person’s heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple the chance of survival after a cardiac arrest, making lay rescuer training a public health priority. A comprehensive CPR class prepares individuals to act decisively by teaching manual techniques and the proper use of specialized medical devices. These courses provide the skills necessary to bridge the gap until professional medical help arrives.
Essential Hands-On Skills Taught
The core of any CPR class involves mastering the physical actions needed to keep blood and oxygen flowing through a victim’s body. Students spend significant time practicing chest compressions on manikins, focusing on the correct depth and rate. For adults, the guideline is to compress the chest at least two inches deep, but no more than 2.4 inches, at a speed of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
Trained rescuers learn to alternate these compressions with rescue breaths, typically following a ratio of 30 compressions to two breaths for a single rescuer. Delivering rescue breaths requires opening the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique and ensuring a complete seal over the victim’s mouth to make the chest visibly rise. Allowing the chest to fully recoil after each compression is emphasized, as this enables the heart to refill with blood before the next push.
Training is differentiated based on the victim’s age, since the needs of a child or infant are distinct from an adult. For a child, compressions are often performed with only one hand, or two hands depending on the size, pushing down about two inches. Infant CPR is the most specialized, requiring only two fingers placed on the center of the chest, with a shallower compression depth of about 1.5 inches. For infants, the rescuer’s mouth covers both the nose and mouth during rescue breathing to create an effective seal.
Classes also cover how to manage a choking emergency, which often precedes cardiac arrest, especially in children. For a conscious adult or child, the standard technique involves abdominal thrusts—the Heimlich maneuver—delivered with a sharp, inward, and upward motion to dislodge the obstruction. If the victim becomes unconscious, or for a choking infant, the approach shifts to a combination of back blows and chest thrusts to clear the airway.
Training on Automated External Defibrillators
Modern CPR training integrates the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a portable device that delivers an electrical shock to a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The AED is designed to correct an abnormal, life-threatening heart rhythm, known as ventricular fibrillation. Learning to use this technology is a necessary part of comprehensive resuscitation training.
A significant portion of the class is dedicated to practicing the steps of AED application in a simulated environment. Students are taught to power on the device immediately after retrieving it and to follow the clear, spoken instructions provided by the machine. The training includes attaching the adhesive pads to the victim’s bare chest in the locations indicated on the pads themselves.
After the pads are attached, the AED analyzes the heart’s electrical activity to determine if a shock is necessary. If the device advises a shock, the rescuer is trained to loudly announce the shock and ensure no one is touching the victim before pressing the shock button. If no shock is advised, or immediately after a shock is delivered, the rescuer must promptly resume chest compressions to maintain circulation.
Course Formats and Certification Requirements
Individuals seeking CPR knowledge can choose from different course structures designed to accommodate various learning styles. The traditional format is an in-person, classroom-based course featuring direct instructor demonstrations and extensive hands-on practice with manikins. These classes usually allow for immediate feedback and skills assessment.
A popular alternative is the blended learning model, which divides the training into two distinct parts. The cognitive, knowledge-based portion is completed online at the student’s own pace, often through videos and quizzes. This is followed by a mandatory in-person session, known as a skills check, where the student demonstrates the physical CPR and AED techniques to a certified instructor.
To earn formal certification, participants must successfully complete both a written exam and a practical skills assessment evaluating their performance of compressions and rescue breaths. Certification from major organizations is valid for a period of two years. This renewal cycle is necessary because CPR skills can decline over time, and medical guidelines are regularly updated.