What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compression's delivered to victims thought to be in cardiac arrest. When cardiac arrest occurs, the heart stops pumping blood. CPR can support a small amount of blood flow to the heart and brain to buy time until normal heart function is restored.

Cardiac arrest is often caused by an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF).

When VF develops the heart quivers and doesn't pump blood. The victim in VF cardiac arrest needs CPR and delivery of a shock to the heart, called defibrillation. Defibrillation eliminates the abnormal VF heart rhythm and allows the normal rhythm to resume. Defibrillation is not effective for all forms of cardiac arrest but it is effective to treat VF, the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest. 

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can make the difference between life and death during incidents such as cardiac arrest and drowning. It is recommended that every member of your home know CPR. 

 

2023 Community CPR Classes

Please note:

• The community class is free for residents of Tacoma, Fife, and Fircrest and is funded by the EMS levy.
• The class length is three hours. 
• There is no age limit, but participants must be able to physically perform CPR for two minutes to receive a CPR card after completion of the course. 

 

CPR Sunday Class Registration

 

Community CPR Class Registration Form

 

Date	Day	Time	Location
April 6	Thursday	5:30 am - 8:30 pm	Fire Station 16 7217 6th Ave.
April 15	Saturday	8:30 am - 11:30 am	Fire Station 16 7217 6th Ave.
May 4	Thursday	5:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Fire Station 8 4911 S. Alaska St.
May 20	Saturday	8:30 am - 11:30 am	Fire Station 8 4911 S. Alaska St.
June 1	Thursday	5:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Fire Station 16 7217 6th Ave.
June 17	Saturday	8:30 am - 11:30 am	Fire Station 16 7217 6th Ave.
July 6	Thursday	5:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Fire Station 8 4911 S. Alaska St.
August 3	Thursday	5:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Fire Station 16 7217 6th Ave.
September 7	Thursday	5:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Fire Station 8 4911 S. Alaska St.
October 8	Sunday (CPR Sunday)	8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm	Henry Foss High School 2112 S. Tyler St.
November 18	Saturday	8:30 am - 11:30 am	Fire Station 8 4911 S. Alaska St.

 

 

CPR Classes for your Business

CPR classes are also available for your business.

Business CPR Class Registration Form

 

CPR Materials and Resources

CPR and AED training manual

CPR Sunday is held on the second weekend of October every year. Visit our CPR Sunday page for additional information regarding our annual large-scale training event.

 

PulsePoint Respond Mobile App

PulsePoint Respond is a mobile app that alerts CPR-trained residents to someone nearby having a sudden cardiac arrest. The goal is to have bystanders initiate CPR earlier, more often, and increase the use of automated external defibrillators (AED) prior to emergency responders arriving on the scene. 

 
If administered immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, CPR/AED use can double or triple a person's chance of survival. 

The free app is available for both iOS and Android devices in the App Store or Google Play.