Online course from American Red Cross and American College of Emergency Physicians teaches what to do if first on the scene of an emergency

In an emergency, bystanders can be a critical lifeline until professionals arrive, yet nearly half of U.S. adults are unprepared to help in a medical crisis, according to a recent survey from the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). However, four in five adults (81%) said they would be willing to help in an emergency if they took a training course.

Given its ongoing commitment to providing lifesaving education, the American Red Cross and ACEP released a course today called “Until Help Arrives” designed to educate and empower bystanders to take action and provide lifesaving care if they are first on the scene during an emergency.

The 90-minute online course covers five fundamental actions that can be taken during a life-threatening emergency that can help sustain or save a life until EMS arrives:

• Hands-only CPR (no breaths)
• Automated external defibrillator (AED) use
• Choking first aid
• Severe bleeding control, including use of a tourniquet
• Administering naloxone for an opioid overdose.

“This course is designed to offer bystanders basic information that gives them confidence to take immediate action when minutes matter,” said Dominick Tolli, senior vice president of Training Services for the Red Cross. “These five foundational skills, taken together, address the most pressing emergency needs someone is likely to be called upon for help.”

Training is strongly correlated to taking action. Nine-in-ten adults trained in any form of emergency response skill (91 percent) are willing to take action in an emergency, according to the ACEP survey.

“We are very proud to collaborate with the American Red Cross on this important program,” said Christopher S. Kang, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “With the right knowledge and training, anyone can initially respond to a medical emergency. This course can educate millions of potential lifesavers with vital, easy-to-remember training, empowering them to be the help, until help arrives.”

The course is available on redcross.org/UntilHelpArrives. Because it is online only, it does not meet OSHA requirements for First Aid/CPR/AED training with psychomotor skills practice.