I'd be hesitant to take a non-certified one. Yes, it costs money, but that money ensures the trainer knows what they are doing, and the trainer giving you a cert gives you confidence that YOU know what you are doing.

While CPR isn't rocket science, methods have changed, and if you do it incorrectly or in a case where it isn't what is immediately called for, you potentially can do more harm.

I mean if you are serious about it, 70 bucks seems like a small price to pay to make sure you are going to be helpful in a situation like that.

That said, when we had our kid a while back, our hospital offered an infant CPR course (i'm already certified, but wouldn't consider myself qualified to teach someone else) which i believe was free, and i believe didn't carry any certification attached to it.

Edit: Meant to add my wife did take it, and everything they taught her was in line with what i was taught.

Not an expert but fairly familiar with the process.

I think Good Samaritan laws would cover you if you are not certified and attempting to perform CPR in a life-threatening situation but have heard some anxiety that you are still putting yourself at risk of litigation.

Googling "free CPR class" it seems like there are some results that are under $15 and in some cases, free. So you could look at that.

I feel like I've seen libraries and/or community centers offer free first aid and/or CPR courses in the past. Maybe you want to cajole your local one of those to put one on...with the taxpayer money you have already paid them.

If you didnt learn chest compressions in a classroom setting with a certified providers then I guarantee you wouldnt know how to do it in a real situation when it is 100x harder. They train you how to do it according to the latest medical guidelines so that when EMT shows up they can actually have a confidence that you followed instructions and oxygenated blood continued flowing to the brain.

I took the red cross trainings both in UK and US and the training staff I encountered every time has enough experience to answer any question even from medical prodessionals. I did my recertification in December 2022 in central NJ red cross and it was very well run. Red cross ask that you recertify every two years. Btw children and infant CPR is even more tricky.

Red cross does a lot of community support in times of crisis. They arent bad people. We can complain how their blood donation programs work but other than that they are needed in times of crisis.

You are covered by good samartian laws regardless. I used to be an AHA CPR instructor. If you're doing CPR on them, they're already dead, so you can't make them more dead. You can sue anyone for anything.

First aid gets a little more dicey since you can really screw shit up, like putting a tourniquet on someone's arm when they have a small cut.

I get what you're saying, but you really can't do more harm than good. They're dead. Poor quality CPR is still better than no CPR.

If you mean someone might do CPR on a person who is still alive, well yeah, I don't know if training is going to fix that.

I'm not suggesting the class should be taught by someone who isn't certified or well-trained. Just that there should be a cheaper option for those who don't need a certification.

Nothing against the Red Cross, they do a lot of good. But CPR should be taught to everyone for super cheap. By charging $35/student for the cert, they jack the price up since the instructor needs to turn a profit as well. At the end of the day, they're a $3 billion company whos top management are all making half a million plus in salary.

The CEO is from NJ and she would be making three times that if she stayed at Fidelity or AT&T. Top talented people cost money for a reason.

I think you should raise the issue why the NJ government isnt teaching/financing basic first aid and cpr in classroom to kids and support staff.

Most medical professionals recertify with red cross.

a common example may be trying to perform it on a person with an obstructed airway.

I understand what you are saying, if they are in cardiac arrest an imperfect compression is better than no compression, but an important part of CPR is identifying when to do it. Likewise being able to do it correctly is

Edit: is going to tire you out a lot less quicker than trying to wing it.

The point of the certification for a lay person is the instructor going, "Yes, you understand it, have demonstrated proper knowledge and technique, and you can be confident that you will be able to do this correctly if necessary"

and if you can't, well you don't get the certificate, and that should tell you something.

With something uncertified, maybe you just get a pat on the back.

Look up MedicZero, Inc. It's a nonprofit run by Rutgers students/alumni who are EMTs, they teach bystander CPR classes which teach CPR and stroke awareness. You don't get a certification, but you learn what signs to look for, how to perform CPR/use an AED, how to direct other bystanders to help & call 911 while you perform CPR. My local library/OEM department organized the class and about 50 of us residents showed up. It was a real eye opening experience and I feel confident about performing CPR should someone need it. (The Good Samaritan law protects bystanders performing CPR who aren't certified).

If you're on Instagram, you can find them at @mediczeroinc or @mediczerorutgers

Highly recommend contacting them to find a class or set up a class for your town!

if a person needs cpr you really can't make things any worst. the hole they're dead thing.

if you don't want to take a proper course just watch a youtude video on it.

My husband and I took a "family and friends" CPR class through Penn Med hospital, in Princeton. It didn't include certification but was taught by an EMT and only cost $25 per person. You should see if hospitals in your area offer something similar.

ahhh that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification!