The Red Cross is a recognized provider of first aid, CPR, swimming and water safety, and other health and safety education courses. An average of seven million people become certified in Red Cross health and safety courses each year. Each course is targeted to a specific population and designed to teach the exact skills people need to know in an emergency. Health and safety courses are important to the Red Cross for reasons that go beyond their lifesaving value to the American people. Many Red Cross volunteers are recruited during CPR and first aid classes, and 29 percent of all volunteers are registered in health and safety.
All programs emphasize the importance of prevention.
The goal of Red Cross courses is to teach people not only how to respond to injuries, but also how to prevent them. New Red Cross CPR courses reflect the most recent changes in emergency cardiac care. The number of cardiac emergencies Americans suffer each year underlines the importance of CPR training. Today, the Red Cross full-service approach to CPR training is tailored to the needs of specific groups and individuals. Classes include Adult CPR, Infant and Child CPR, Community CPR, and CPR for the Professional Rescuer.