CPR

The Chain of Survival is the sequence that gives a person the best chance after cardiac arrest. Its six links show why early recognition, CPR, AED use, advanced care, post-arrest care, and recovery all matter.

Modern CPR took shape in 1960, but the story starts much earlier. The major milestones explain how today’s CPR developed and why hands-on training still matters when you choose a class.

Everyone should learn CPR because cardiac arrest almost never starts around a full medical team. The skill matters at home, at work, and in public, where the first helper is often whoever is already there.

Heart attack and cardiac arrest involve the heart, but they are not the same emergency. The practical difference changes what you do, especially when CPR and AED use become urgent.

Bystander CPR statistics matter because they show what happens before EMS arrives. The numbers reveal the survival gap, the underuse of CPR and public AEDs, and why ordinary bystanders matter so much.

Two-rescuer CPR works better because one person can stay on compressions while the other handles breaths, the AED, timing, and the switch. That split helps protect compression quality before fatigue starts causing long pauses and shallow pushes.

Hands-Only CPR is the AHA’s public two-step response for a teen or adult who suddenly collapses: call 911 and start chest compressions right away.

The 7 steps of CPR give bystanders a simple order to follow when someone collapses: check the scene, call 911, assess breathing, start compressions, bring in the AED, and keep going until help takes over.

Renewing CPR works best when you start with the card you already have, match the course name, book before the deadline, handle the required materials, and keep the new card easy to find.

For the AHA BLS card most readers mean here, CPR certification lasts 2 years. The bigger issue is not the number itself but making sure the card stays current before a job, school, or clinical site checks it.