Updated American Heart
Association CPR Guidelines

By: Lindsay Barton MomsTeam Health & Safety Editor

Reviewed: by Glenn Laub, MD

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In 2006, the American Heart Association (AHA), in order to improve a victim's chances of recovery and to simplify teaching of CPR skills, updated their CPR guidelines.

Among the changes the AHA made are the following:

• Shortened training: CPR training classes are now two hours long instead of the previous four (shorter classes should increase the number of lay people trained in CPR, increasing the chances that more SCA victims can be saved).

• No pulse check: Lay rescuers are no longer taught to check for a pulse. The signal for lay rescuers to begin chest compressions is the absence of signs of circulation (normal breathing, coughing or movement) in response to two rescue breaths.

• Compression rates changed: For adults the compression rate has been increased to 100 per minute; the compression-to-ventilation ratio for CPR for victims age 8 and older is now 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths for one or two rescuers.

In connection with the guidelines, the AHA recommends more CPR training at the high school level and re-training of those who have previously been trained in CPR when their current certification expire.

If you are interested in learning CPR, please click here or contact your nearest American Heart Association office.

Updated March 7, 2007
Published March 4, 2004

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