Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure performed when the heart stops beating. A CPR class equips lay rescuers with the skills to intervene during a cardiac emergency, providing immediate, temporary support to maintain blood flow to the brain and other organs until professional medical help arrives. Participants learn to recognize the signs of a sudden cardiac event and understand their role in the critical Chain of Survival. The instruction focuses on delivering high-quality chest compressions and, when appropriate, rescue breaths.
Class Formats and Time Commitment
The time required to complete a CPR class depends largely on the format chosen, with two primary methods available: traditional instructor-led and blended learning. A traditional, fully in-person course involves attending a single, longer session where all theory and hands-on practice are completed with an instructor. These classroom-based courses typically require a commitment of four to eight hours, sometimes split over two days, depending on whether First Aid or other certifications are included.
A blended learning course offers greater flexibility by dividing the material into an online knowledge portion and a shorter, in-person skills session. The online component allows participants to complete the didactic material at their own pace before attending a scheduled hands-on session. This in-person skills practice, where the physical techniques are demonstrated and tested, can be as short as one to two hours. Pre-registration is always necessary to secure a spot and, for blended learning, to receive access to the online modules beforehand.
Essential Skills Taught
The curriculum centers on the steps necessary to manage a cardiac emergency, starting with recognizing the situation and activating the emergency response system. Participants learn to check for responsiveness and breathing, immediately calling for help if the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Instruction then moves to the physical components of CPR, detailing the precise standards for chest compressions.
For adults, compressions must be delivered at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute, with a depth of at least two inches, while ensuring full chest recoil between compressions. Training also covers how to adapt these techniques for different age groups, including children and infants, and how to perform rescue breaths using a barrier device. A significant portion of the course focuses on the proper utilization of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Students are taught the steps for powering on the AED, attaching the electrode pads to the bare chest, and following the clear voice prompts to safely deliver a shock when advised. The course also prepares students for recognizing and performing choking relief maneuvers for adults, children, and infants.
Hands-On Practice and Certification
The most immersive aspect of the class is the extensive hands-on practice, which is conducted on specialized manikins that simulate a human torso. Modern training often utilizes manikins equipped with real-time feedback technology, providing visual or auditory cues about the quality of compressions and ventilations. This immediate feedback helps students adjust their technique to meet the required depth, rate, and recoil standards, which is necessary for building effective muscle memory.
The final stage of the course involves a formal assessment, which ensures the participant has mastered the life-saving skills. This typically includes a mandatory, timed skills check where the student must perform the full sequence of CPR and AED use on a manikin to the required standards. Depending on the course type, a written test may also be required to demonstrate knowledge retention of the theoretical material. Upon successful completion of both the practical and written assessments, the student receives an official certification card, which is valid for a period of two years.