National CPR/AED Week June 1-7

If you were one of the 25 percent of Americans who have been in a situation where someone needed CPR, would you know what to do? During National CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) Awareness Week (June 1-7) and throughout the year, the American Red Cross encourages people to take CPR/AED training to learn how to save a life.

The ability to perform CPR can make a lifesaving difference when someone suffers a cardiac or breathing emergency. The Red Cross has a vision of one person in every household being trained in First Aid and CPR lifesaving skills, and all Americans being within four minutes of an AED with someone trained to use it in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Red Cross trains millions of people each year in CPR and AED and offers several training options, including a 30 minute Citizen CPR class which teaches Hands-Only CPR and full CPR training. All First Aid, Full CPR and AED training carry a 2-year certification. You can find more information and register for a class by visiting the CPR and AED page on the Red Cross website.

Studies have shown that being trained in hands-only CPR can make more the lifesaving difference when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest. Become one of the millions of people the Red Cross trains each year by taking a Citizen CPR class that teaches you how the hands only technique can save a life.

Hands-only CPR is a potentially lifesaving technique involving no mouth to mouth contact. It is best used in emergencies where someone has seen another person suddenly collapse. The hands-only technique increases the likelihood of surviving cardiac emergencies that occur outside medical settings.

Hands-only CPR is different from full CPR because full CPR combines rescue breaths with chest compressions and is the best option in some emergencies, including those involving infants and children, drowning victims, or people who collapse due to breathing problems.

During a full CPR training, participants learn how to perform CPR and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, infants, and children. Using the combination of breaths and compressions, full CPR can save a life in a cardiac emergency.

Statistics show that over 300,000 Americans die due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone on scene had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival and an AED had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency. All American Red Cross Adult and Child CPR courses contain defibrillation skills and information.

Taking a course is easy. Courses are offered online with the textbook learning taking place online with a classroom hands-on portion or full classroom course. Visit www.redcross.org  to see the courses taking place near you. If you would rather, you can call 1-800-REDCROSS to find out about courses over the phone.