Red Cross Responds to USA Today Article that Promotes Continuous CPR
A recent USA Today article
raising questions about whether current CPR procedures taught by the American Red Cross and others are the most effective way to respond to a victim who is in cardiac arrest. The Red Cross’ response is as follows:

“The content of the USA Today article refers to the process of emergency
medical dispatchers giving untrained bystanders instructions over the
telephone, to help provide care until EMS professionals arrive. This move to
have emergency medical dispatchers provide callers who are not trained in
CPR, with directions to provide only chest compressions, does not constitute
a change in the training provided by the American Red Cross. According to
Dr. Donald Gordon, M.D., PhD., Chair of the American Red Cross Advisory
Council on First Aid and Safety (ACFAS), instructing the untrained bystander
to provide continuous compressions CPR is better than having them provide no
care.

The above guidance reinforces the most important actions a person can take
in an emergency, which are recognizing that an emergency exists, calling
9-1-1 or the local emergency number, and providing care.

The current standard for American Red Cross CPR training is based on the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. These guidelines represent an international consensus regarding the care for persons in need of emergency cardiovascular care.

Note: Dr. Donald Gordon, M.D., Ph.D. Chair of the American Red Cross
National Advisory Council on First Aid and Safety participated in the
meeting of the 21 major urban area medical directors where the actions
referenced in the February 24, 2004 USA Today article entitled, “Simpler
Method for CPR Coming” were discussed.

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