CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

What It Covers

CPR evolved from ancient Egyptian resuscitation attempts through centuries of failed methods — including bellows, barrel rolling, and flagellation — into a standardized modern technique formally codified at Johns Hopkins in 1960 and now taught to 65% of Americans.

Key Questions Answered

• •CPR Mechanics: Chest compressions must push 2 inches deep into the center of the chest. For trained rescuers, the ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Untrained bystanders should perform compression-only CPR continuously, paced to the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive."
• •AED Survival Odds: Automated external defibrillators carry a 10–70% survival rate when used immediately after cardiac arrest. Critically, survival odds drop 10% for every minute treatment is delayed, making AED placement in public spaces — schools, gyms, arenas — a direct life-saving measure.
• •Modern CPR Origins: James Elam and Peter Safar demonstrated in the 1950s that exhaled air contains sufficient oxygen to sustain another person. Kouwenhoven, Knickerbocker, and Jude at Johns Hopkins then combined this with chest compressions, producing the modern CPR protocol still used today.
• •CPR Training Access: Red Cross certification courses combine online instruction with an in-person skills assessment, remain valid for two years, and are available to anyone. Most U.S. states now mandate CPR training in schools for both students and teachers to expand community-level response capacity.