Should I get CPR training?

Yes, you should get CPR training! Every year, thousands of people have a cardiac arrest. This is when their heart stops beating. It happens at home or in other places outside of a hospital. Most people who have cardiac arrest die before they reach the hospital, but CPR can greatly increase their chances of surviving. Unfortunately, few people who have cardiac arrest outside of a hospital get CPR. If you know CPR, you can help save a life.

You may not want to do CPR because you are afraid of or uncomfortable with the rescue breathing. The American Heart Association (AHA) has found that chest compressions only works as well as chest compressions with rescue breathing. This is called hands-only or compression-only CPR. Hands-only CPR is 2 simple steps: Call 911 (or send someone to do it) and push hard and fast in the center of the chest (100 to 120 beats per minute). It's important to learn how to do hands-only or compression-only CPR and help save a life.

Where to get CPR training

You can take a CPR training class online or in your area. To find a class:

• Avera Community Training Center, Yankton, SD, 605-668-8475

• American Heart Association or 800-AHA-USA-1 (800-242-8721)

• American Red Cross, 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or your local Red Cross office

Other courses

Both the AHA and the American Red Cross offer many different first aid and CPR classes. Contact your local hospital because they have regular education and training opportunities such as:

• Infant CPR

• Child CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator)

• Adult CPR with breaths

• How to help a choking adult, child, or baby

• CPR refresher

• Babysitter or caregiver

• Hands-only CPR, also called chest compression-only CPR and using an AED