CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival—here’s how it was developed
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CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival—here’s how it was developed
A person performing CPR on a man having a heart attack
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Before the 19th century: Varying methods from flagellation to bellows precede modern CPR
A carving of Isis standing behind Osiris at Abydos Temple
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1868: First accounts of sternal compression recorded
Royal Free Hospital in 2020
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1933: William Kouwenhoven ‘accidentally’ develops modern CPR technique while researching external defibrillation
A doctor holding a defibrillator
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1938: Vladimir Negovsky establishes first resuscitation laboratory in Moscow
Russian scientist at the Laboratory of Experimental Physiology and Organism Reviving under the leadership of pathophysiologist Vladimir Negovsky
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1949: Red Cross invites CPR pioneers to evaluate techniques
An American Red Cross Disaster Services vehicle and logo
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1956: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation deemed an effective method for life-saving techniques
A woman performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on an unconscious man
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1960: First CPR training mannequin is created
Linda Dominguez, manager of the St John Ambulance First Aid Services, holding a ‘Resusci Annie’ mannequin
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1974: Standards for CPR adopted by various medical organizations
Dr. William Kouwenhoven bending over man on table while demonstrating techniques of CPR
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2010s: Hands-only CPR gains popularity for bystander use
A woman demonstrating CPR on mannequin during a first aid class
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2021: Five states pass laws requiring 911 dispatchers be trained in instructing CPR over the phone
A police dispatcher working at console
