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Help Save a Life: Learn CPR

Would you know what to do if your child wasn't breathing? Read this article to get the facts on the importance of learning CPR.
By: Lindsay Hutton

In this article, you will find:

The importance of knowing CPR
How and where to get trained

How and where to get trained

The American Red Cross recommends hands-only CPR for those who are untrained in CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Hands-only CPR can double or triple an individual's chance for survival if provided within four to six minutes of collapse. To perform hands-only CPR on an unresponsive person, follow these steps:

  • Call 911 immediately.
  • Press hard and fast in the center of the victim's chest.

Although hands-only CPR can be as effective as conventional CPR, the AHA still recommends taking a professionally-taught course to practice and learn the necessary skills of CPR, including giving high-quality chest compressions. Mouth-to-mouth breathing, as taught in CPR courses, can be more effective for infants and children, drowning victims, and those who have collapsed due to breathing problems.

Remember, the first thing to do in an emergency is to call 911 for help. But to increase the chances of doing your part to save a life, get certified in CPR. To find a CPR course near you, visit the following professional websites:

American Academy of Pediatrics
American Red Cross
American Heart Association

How do your CPR skills stack up? Take our CPR quiz and find out!

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