Information provided by the American Red Cross. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
During National Heart Month, the American Red Cross is urging people to show your loved ones how much you care by taking a Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED class and other lifesaving skills courses. Having the knowledge and confidence to act when seconds count can triple someone’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. Here in the Northern California Coastal Region, 103,872 people were trained in lifesaving skills last year.
Today, millions of Americans serve as caregivers, supporting both young children and aging loved ones — often at the same time. Yet many lack critical lifesaving training, including how to respond in a cardiac arrest emergency. Only about one-third of U.S. adults say they feel confident and ready to act if someone goes into cardiac arrest.
More than 300,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of hospitals each year in the United States. Infants, older adults and those with chronic health conditions are among the most vulnerable. For children of all ages, more than 80% of these emergencies happen at home — making the home the front line of response. CPR and AED training isn’t just a medical skill — it’s a caregiving essential.
“Having the ability to respond to a cardiac emergency makes you a better, more confident caregiver,” said Justin Mueller, Regional Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region. “Learning first aid and CPR skills may make a lifesaving difference for your child, family member or even a stranger.”
Be Ready for the Moments that Matter with Red Cross Lifesaving Training
For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has been a national leader in first aid education, training more than three million people per year in first aid, CPR and AED skills to help save lives in emergencies, like local Bay Area residents, Debbie and Vincent:
- Gilroy resident Debbie Vasquez saved her husband’s like by using CPR skills during a cardiac emergency, showing how just 15 minutes of courage can make all the difference.
- Vacaville volunteer firefighter Vincent Hayes was recognized on his 20th birthday with a Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action after using his lifesaving training to save a man’s life at Disneyland.
- Red Cross training is also preparing the next generation of caregivers, equipping young babysitters with first aid and CPR skills to respond confidently in emergencies with newly updated curriculum.
To ensure we are meeting the needs of today and evolving with the latest science, the Red Cross has recently enhanced its First Aid/CPR/AED training program to include updated infant CPR techniques and instruction on using epinephrine nasal spray, which is now an approved treatment for anaphylaxis. These updates ensure caregivers and bystanders are prepared to respond quickly and confidently in a range of life-threatening emergencies.
The training also equips participants with the knowledge and skills to better identify and respond to heart-related emergencies, including understanding the critical differences between cardiac arrest and heart attacks. It incorporates updated warning signs—highlighting how heart attacks can present differently in women—so symptoms are recognized earlier and lifesaving action can begin sooner. Visit redcross.org/takeaclass to find a class near you.