What Is CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that combines chest compressions and rescue breathing to maintain blood flow and oxygen delivery when someone's heart stops beating or they stop breathing. In workplace and home settings, CPR can mean the difference between permanent brain damage and full recovery, as brain cells begin dying within 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen.
Workplace Requirements
OSHA doesn't mandate CPR training for all employees, but specific industries face strict requirements. Healthcare facilities, water rescue operations, and public safety roles must have staff trained in CPR. Additionally, if your workplace has an AED (automated external defibrillator) on site, OSHA recommends (though doesn't mandate) that designated employees receive CPR training to use it effectively. Under OSHA's bloodborne pathogens standard (1910.1030), CPR must be offered to employees with occupational exposure to blood.
Many safety managers include CPR as part of their emergency action plan, particularly if the facility is remote or response times from emergency services exceed 10 minutes. Fire codes in most jurisdictions require CPR training for specific roles like security personnel and managers in high-occupancy buildings.
Proper Technique
Current CPR guidelines emphasize continuous chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, roughly the tempo of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees. Push hard and fast on the center of the chest at least 2 inches deep. Rescue breathing is now considered optional for untrained bystanders; hands-only CPR (continuous compressions without breathing) shows equal or better outcomes in adults.
For children and infants, technique differs slightly. Compression depth for children is at least one-third the chest depth (roughly 2 inches for most children). Infant CPR uses two fingers rather than the heel of the hand.
Home and Safety Audits
Home safety audits should assess whether household members know CPR, particularly if anyone lives with elderly relatives or those with cardiac history. A single trained household member can dramatically improve survival odds. Homeowners in rural areas should prioritize CPR training given longer ambulance response times, often 20 to 30 minutes or more.
Post a CPR instruction card near your AED if you own one, and ensure your First Aid kit is stored accessibly nearby.
Certification and Maintenance
CPR certification through organizations like the American Heart Association or Red Cross is valid for 2 years. Recertification requires a brief refresher course (30 to 60 minutes) rather than full retraining. Many workplaces schedule recertification every 24 months as part of safety compliance.
Common Questions
- Do I need CPR certification to perform CPR? No. Legally, any bystander can perform CPR without formal training. However, trained responders have higher success rates. Most states have "Good Samaritan" laws that protect untrained people who attempt CPR in good faith.
- Can CPR break ribs? Yes, rib fractures occur in roughly 30% of CPR cases, especially in older adults. This is considered acceptable; a broken rib heals, but a cardiac arrest victim without CPR dies.
- What's the success rate of CPR? Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates range from 8% to 15% in most U.S. communities. When bystander CPR starts immediately, survival rates can reach 40% or higher. AED availability within 3 to 5 minutes further improves outcomes.