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When cardiac emergencies strike, quick action can make all the difference. That’s why basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is valuable not only for healthcare professionals but also for everyday people — parents, teachers, coworkers, and friends. A Family and Friends CPR class gives community members the confidence to know when to do CPR and the skills to step in until professional help arrives. Designed to be approachable and hands-on, these courses walk participants through how to perform CPR in real-world situations and train them to become capable lifesavers in their communities.
Why CPR Matters for Everyone, Not Just Healthcare Workers
Every second counts when someone’s heart stops beating, yet emergencies don’t wait for professionals to arrive. Thus, it’s safe to say that basic CPR isn't just for medical experts. Empowering friends, neighbors, and family members with skills in how to perform CPR ensures they’re ready to act in moments of crisis, helping bridge the critical gap before emergency responders arrive.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Can Happen Anytime, Anywhere
Sudden cardiac arrest is shockingly common. It strikes more than 350,000 people outside of hospitals in the U.S. each year, and around 70% of those incidents occur at home. Unfortunately, because help often arrives too late, the survival rate is only about 10%. Every minute that goes by without action reduces a person’s chance of survival by roughly 10%. This rapid decline highlights why immediate action and knowing how to perform CPR are so vital.
The Critical Role of Bystanders in Saving Lives
When bystanders step in with basic CPR, it can double or even triple the chance of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest. Yet in many cases — around 40% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests — CPR from bystanders doesn’t happen, often because people aren't trained or feel nervous to act. Stronger bystander support, such as dispatcher-assisted guidance or apps that alert nearby responders, can make a meaningful difference. Ultimately, encouraging everyone to feel empowered to act helps make sure that more lives are saved, wherever they might be.
What Is the Family and Friends CPR Class?
A Family and Friends CPR class is a welcoming, non-certification course crafted for everyday people rather than professionals. It teaches lifesaving skills like adult Hands-Only CPR, infant and child CPR (with breaths), AED use, and choking relief — all without the pressure of a formal exam or credential requirement. The course uses a practice‑while‑watching approach, where learners observe video demonstrations and immediately practice on manikins to reinforce learning. This course, led by an American Heart Association instructor or a trained community facilitator, provides participants with basic CPR skills in an accessible, pressure-free environment.
A Non-Certification Course Designed for Everyday People
This class isn’t aimed at medical professionals. Rather, it’s for anyone who wants to know how to perform CPR but doesn’t need a formal certification. It's intentionally non‑credentialed, meaning you won’t receive a job‑required course card, but you’ll still master essential emergency response skills. That makes it a great fit for casual learning, community outreach, or simply gaining confidence in helping others.
Who It’s For: Parents, Caregivers, Teachers, and Community Members
This course is ideal for a wide range of individuals, including new parents, grandparents, babysitters, teachers, students, and community volunteers — anyone who may find themselves in a situation where knowing when to perform CPR could make a life-saving difference. It’s especially suited to regular folks who want to be prepared without the formality or stress of certification.
Hands-On, Accessible Training Without the Pressure of Exams
Using the AHA’s proven practice‑while‑watching model, this class delivers hands-on training through video-led demonstrations and immediate skills practice on manikins. The emphasis is on building real-world confidence, not passing tests, making it approachable and stress-free for learners of all kinds. Instead of worrying about achieving a certification or obtaining a credential, participants can focus on building life-saving skills.
Skills You’ll Learn in a Family and Friends CPR Class
This course covers everything you’d want to know to step in during an emergency, even if you're not medically trained. You’ll learn to recognize cardiac arrest signs, use automated external defibrillators (AEDs), perform basic CPR, and offer choking relief across age groups.
Recognizing the Signs of Cardiac Arrest
You’ll practice recognizing the signs for when to do CPR. These include noticing when someone isn’t responsive, isn’t breathing normally, and needs help fast. Identifying these signs early can be the difference in someone’s survival.
How to Perform Hands-Only CPR on Adults
The course teaches hands‑only CPR methods for adults. That means giving chest compressions at the proper rhythm and depth to keep blood and oxygen moving until help arrives.
Child and Infant CPR Basics
You’ll also get training in CPR with breaths for children and infants, including proper hand placement and technique adjustments tailored to smaller bodies. These differences are vital and often increase your comfort and effectiveness in real emergencies.
Choking Relief Techniques for All Ages
This class teaches you how to assist adults, children, and infants who are choking, whether it's a mild or severe airway obstruction. You'll learn techniques such as back blows, abdominal thrusts, and chest thrusts, depending on the specific situation.
What to Expect During the Class
Here’s how the experience typically unfolds: a mix of demos, hands-on practice, and group engagement, customized to fit busy lives.
Instructor Demonstrations and Guided Practice
You’ll watch clear video demonstrations (AHA’s practice-while-watching format) and immediately practice the techniques yourself, getting direct guidance and feedback. In other words, you’ll learn from experts while also applying the techniques yourself.
Using CPR Manikins to Build Confidence
Manikins are at the heart of the practice. You’ll repeatedly use them to perform compressions, breaths, and choking maneuvers until the motions feel familiar and intuitive.
Group Learning and Peer Support
Being in a group means learning alongside others, sharing tips, asking questions, and reinforcing skills together. This environment reduces anxiety and boosts confidence, as you’ll be alongside people going through the same experience.
Short, Practical Sessions That Fit Busy Schedules
Modules are bite-sized — usually lasting 20 to 40 minutes per topic. For example, adult hands‑only CPR and choking takes around 39 minutes, child CPR about 27 minutes, and infant CPR about 21 minutes. These short sessions make the training practical, efficient, and easy to fit into your day.
The Benefits of Taking a Family and Friends CPR Class
Here’s what you gain beyond just skills — confidence, security, and a safer community.
Confidence to Act in an Emergency
You'll leave feeling ready, not overwhelmed, to step in if someone collapses. With hands-on practice and real-world repetition, you’ll understand how to perform CPR when it matters most.
Peace of Mind for Parents, Babysitters, and Teachers
Ideally, you won’t be in a situation where you’ll need to apply CPR. However, knowing you have the tools to help a loved one or child in crisis is a major relief. This course provides that peace of mind without the burden of professional certification.
Strengthening Community Safety Through Shared Knowledge
When even a few people in a neighborhood or family get trained, the whole community becomes safer. Shared awareness and readiness make emergencies less scary and more solvable.
A First Step Toward More Advanced CPR or First Aid Training
For those who later decide they want or need certification, this class lays a solid foundation. It provides the basics before enrolling in formal, credentialed programs and gives you valuable experience.
How to Enroll and Get Started
Getting started is easier than you might think. There are numerous flexible options available, as well as minimal preparation required. Let’s dive in:
Where to Find Family and Friends CPR Classes
You can locate AHA-class centers offering Family & Friends CPR through their training tools. Alternatively, local hospitals, community groups, or wellness programs often host classes, including in-person or blended online formats.
What to Bring (and What’s Provided for You)
Bring yourself and, if they’re interested, your family members or friends. The class typically includes all necessary materials, like student manuals, videos, and manikins, so you’re good to go.
Options for In-Person and Blended Learning
Choose an in-person group session or a blended option that mixes video instruction with hands-on practice. Both deliver the key elements — seeing demonstrations, practicing skills, and building confidence.
Final Takeaway: CPR Is a Skill Everyone Should Have
At the end of the day, knowing how to perform CPR isn’t just a helpful skill — it’s a responsibility we all share as members of our communities. Cardiac emergencies don’t wait for medical professionals, and the first person on the scene is often a friend, coworker, or loved one. By taking the time to learn basic CPR and understanding when to do CPR, you’re giving yourself the power to step in when it matters most.
The Family and Friends CPR class makes this knowledge accessible, stress-free, and tailored for everyday people who simply want to be prepared. With just a few hours of practice, you can carry the confidence that, if faced with a sudden cardiac emergency, you’ll be ready to take action and potentially save a life.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you’re ready to turn knowledge into action, consider enrolling in Nebraska Methodist College's Family and Friends CPR course — a simple, hands-on way to learn what to do when it matters most. Visit our Life Support Community Classes page to explore the course details and find upcoming sessions. This community-focused training offers practical, non-certification instruction that gives you the confidence to know when to do CPR and how to perform CPR without the pressure of exams.
Sources
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/04/28/cardiac-arrest-cpr-aed-training
https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats
https://cpr.heart.org/en/courses/family-and-friends-cpr
https://www.everydayheroescprtraining.com/change-to-free
https://www.parents.com/kids-can-learn-critical-lifesaving-skills-7504029
https://www.cprclassesoakland.org/cpr-cert-for-new-parents-in-oakland-infant-and-child-safety/
https://www.methodistcollege.edu/professional-development/cprbls-courses-0