The History of CPR: How It Became a Life-Saving Skill

Have you ever wondered about CPR and its origins?  When did it all begin and how did it become a life-saving skill.  Well, a quick internet search answers all these questions and more.  In summary, we have listed it here for your education and amusement.

• CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) did not begin as CPR, but rather just mouth to mouth breaths.  It was used predominantly to resuscitate drowning victims and was reported as early as the 1700s.

• In the 18th & 19th century concerns were raised regarding the risks associated with doing mouth to mouth and alternative techniques were investigated.

• It wasn’t until the 20th century that CPR, that is, the combination of mouth to mouth with external chest compressions were combined and formalised.

• In the 1950s mouth to mouth was scientifically demonstrated by researches such as Dr James Elam and Peter Safar and in 1958-1960 the Resusci Anne manikin was born (developed by Asmund Laerdal, Dr Safar and Dr Bjorn Lind).

• CPR training with the Resusci Anne was introduced in America in 1960 and formally endorsed by the American Heart Association in 1963 and although there have been changes throughout the years, the basic foundations have remained consistent. https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/history-of-cpr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qixlQGzWYEc

Interesting fact:Did you know that the face of the Resusci Anne manikins used throughout CPR training was modelled off a lady who had drowned in the 1880s in the river Seine in France. “https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/blog/staying-alive-a-history-of-cpr”