Finding a CPR and first aid class (and how Japan trains ordinary people)

Reading about CPR is not the same as being able to do it. How hard and how fast to push on a chest, where the AED pads go, what to do when your arms get tired: these are learned on a manikin with an instructor watching. Every preparedness agency, in the U.S. and in Japan, ends up giving the same advice: take a class.

Classes in the U.S.

• American Red Cross offers First Aid, CPR and AED courses as instructor-led classes, online courses, or blended learning that combines online coursework with in-person training. The Red Cross says its program meets OSHA and other workplace requirements, and that its first aid training covers care for children, adults and pets. Start from its First Aid classes page.
• American Heart Association: its course catalog separates courses for non-healthcare professionals from those for healthcare professionals. Most people want the first group.

If you only have time for one thing, choose a format that includes hands-on skills practice. An online module is a useful warm-up; it doesn't replace pushing on a manikin.

How Japan trains ordinary people

Japan puts first aid training within reach of almost everyone, mostly through local fire departments and the Japanese Red Cross.

Fire department courses

Participants receive a certificate of completion. The national Fire and Disaster Management Agency also publishes free online first aid videos (basic course, advanced course, and an introductory course) that people can watch before attending.

Japanese Red Cross courses

People who pass the test receive a certification. Courses are run by each prefectural chapter, so dates and details vary by region.

Acting without hesitation

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency encourages bystanders to act, explaining that people who give first aid in good faith are generally not considered legally liable for the outcome unless there was malice or gross negligence. That explanation is about Japan; rules elsewhere differ. Training is what turns that permission into action.

Finding an AED

In Japan, the Japan Foundation for Emergency Medicine runs a national AED map that shows registered AEDs (only those whose owners agreed to be listed, so not every AED appears). In the U.S., ask at trailheads, campgrounds and visitor centers.

Before you go outdoors (our suggestions)

• Find out where the nearest AED is and how far you are from emergency services.
• Pack a first aid kit you know how to use, and refresh your training every couple of years.
• Run through the steps out loud with your group before a remote trip. See also Safety.