SAN ANTONIO – Every five years, CPR training gets tweaked in efforts to enhance both the training as well as the care provided to people in need.
In the most recent update in March 2011, basic CPR underwent a major change, no longer requiring rescue breaths as part of the training, citing multiple studies.
"They show where compressions are more vital in the steps of trying to get that person the immediate care they need," said Jeanette Mann-Chavez, a training scheduler with the Red Cross in San Antonio.
In addition to doing away with rescue breaths, basic CPR now calls for nonstop compressions until further help arrives.
"By compressing, you're circulating all the oxygen-rich cells through the body to get to those vital organs," said Mann-Chavez, adding that most people who come in for basic CPR training are fine with the changes which made the class shorter and also did away with a written test.
"If you've never had any type of training whatsoever, then most definitely the push is to do just hands-only CPR and that will work just as well if you were a trained rescuer," Mann-Chavez said.
All levels of CPR training still include rescue breathing for infants.
If you're interested in learning CPR, you can log onto www.redcross.org to look for classes in your area.