Learning how to perform CPR enables you to potentially save a life during emergencies. Cardiac arrest, choking, and allergies can all lead to breathing difficulties and cause the heart to stop. With emergency resuscitation, those in need can receive aid until emergency services arrive. Here are a few of the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation you should know:
Core Steps
Courses that train healthcare providers, non-healthcare providers, groups, and instructors on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation are available. Courses vary, but each teaches foundational CPR techniques and procedures. These core steps include assessing the situation, getting help, and performing chest compressions. The area should be safe, and check whether the individual or child is responsive. If the person appears unresponsive or is breathing abnormally, emergency services should be contacted immediately, either directly or by asking someone nearby to do so.
Resuscitation involves performing chest compressions following a recognized technique. Hands are placed on the person’s chest, one on top of the other, and compressions are delivered at the recommended depth and rate. Individuals with training may provide rescue breaths by tilting the person’s head back, lifting the chin, and forming a seal over the mouth. Those without training can follow hands-only resuscitation to focus on compressions.
An automated external defibrillator (AED) may be used if it is available and the user has received instruction. Knowing when to stop is another key part of resuscitation. This can occur when the person begins breathing regularly, trained help arrives, or the responder becomes too fatigued to continue.
Certification Courses
You may learn basic life-saving skills without pursuing formal certification through online classes, group or corporate sessions, and at-home training. Healthcare providers, however, need up-to-date certification to meet professional requirements. Training programs encompass a range of courses tailored to various needs, including foundational resuscitation, pediatric care, and specialized emergency management. Courses may be taken individually or in combination, depending on your role or workplace requirements.
Course options include:
● Basic Life Support (BLS): Covers fundamental resuscitation techniques, AED use, and choking relief for infants, children, and adults.
● Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS): Builds on BLS by addressing cardiac arrests, strokes, other cardiovascular emergencies, medication administration, and specialized equipment.
● Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS): Focuses on infant- and child-specific first aid, resuscitation, and life support.
● Heartsaver Courses: Teaches CPR, AED use, and basic first aid for non-healthcare providers.
● Bloodborne Pathogens Training: Covers OSHA-approved procedures for roles involving potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids.
Non-healthcare providers can take Heartsaver courses to learn basic first aid, CPR, and AED use, while those in roles with potential exposure to blood or bodily fluids can complete Bloodborne Pathogens Training. Selecting courses aligned with your role supports you receive training that matches your responsibilities and preparedness needs.
Ongoing Learning
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation continues to evolve with the advancement of updated research and guidelines, making ongoing learning helpful. Refreshing skills regularly provides exposure to current standards and techniques. Healthcare providers, for example, must renew their certification every few years to maintain compliance and stay up to date.
Ongoing learning also provides opportunities for practice beyond initial training. Providers offer skill demonstration sessions, refresher drills, video tutorials, and interactive online resources to support their training. Employees and business owners, including healthcare providers, childcare workers, teachers, and first responders, can follow scheduled training to remain familiar with procedures. These sessions help maintain readiness and confidence to respond effectively during emergencies.
Get Your CPR Training Today
Learning the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation provides the opportunity to respond in an emergency. Even without a healthcare background, you may encounter situations where CPR skills are needed. Enrolling in CPR training allows you to practice and understand these techniques. Courses often include hands-on practice, AED use, and guidance on responding to different age groups. Regular practice helps maintain familiarity and confidence in applying these skills when they are needed most.
Life-Saving Techniques: The Basics of CPR You Should Know