About Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

There are two types of CPR.

HANDS-ONLY CPR

Hands-only CPR is a simple technique that anyone can perform in an emergency and is as effective as traditional CPR, but does not require mouth-to-mouth contact. Both keep the patient's blood flowing until EMS providers arrive.

Hands-only CPR is not a certification program. Unlike traditional CPR, the hands-only technique consists of three simple steps: 

  1. Call 911.
  2. Push hard and fast on the center of the chest.
  3. If possible, use a portable defibrillator (AED).

The American Heart Association's hands-only CPR video(link is external) demonstrates the proper technique. The video is also available in Spanish(link is external). To learn more, call 410-887-1822 or email crr@baltimorecountymd.gov.

TRADITIONAL CPR

The American Heart Association offers certification programs in traditional CPR; find a class near you(link is external). Or, call one of the County's volunteer fire stations, which occasionally offer CPR training.

Traditional CPR involves: 

  • Clearing a choking person’s airway
  • Recognizing and assisting someone who may be having a heart attack or stroke
  • Assessing an unresponsive person
  • Performing CPR on a victim suffering from “sudden cardiac death"