The History of CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a skill that saves hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Whether performed by trained professionals or everyday bystanders, CPR has become a vital part of emergency response around the world. But this powerful lifesaving technique wasn’t always part of our medical playbook.

Let’s take a look at the fascinating history of CPR—how it started, how it evolved, and why it continues to be one of the most important skills anyone can learn.

Ancient Roots: Early Efforts to Revive the Dying

The desire to save a life after someone stopped breathing is nothing new. In fact, early resuscitation efforts date back centuries.

• 1500s–1600s: Various cultures used bellows to force air into a person’s lungs or tried methods like blowing into the mouth, pressing on the chest, or swinging people upside down to revive them.

  
  

• 1740: The Paris Academy of Sciences officially recommended mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for drowning victims. This marked one of the first formal recognitions of the value of artificial respiration.

The Birth of Modern CPR

While early methods were crude and often unsuccessful, the science behind CPR began to take shape in the 20th century.

1950s: A Breakthrough in Chest Compressions

Two doctors, Dr. James Elam and Dr. Peter Safar, demonstrated that mouth-to-mouth breathing was effective in providing oxygen to the lungs. At the same time, Dr. William Kouwenhoven and his team at Johns Hopkins University discovered that external chest compressions could keep blood circulating during cardiac arrest.

These discoveries proved that oxygen and circulation could be maintained without surgery or advanced equipment—a revolutionary concept.

1960: CPR Is Born

The American Heart Association (AHA) officially endorsed the combination of chest compressions and rescue breathing as a lifesaving technique. This marked the official birth of modern CPR as we know it.

Training programs began, and CPR quickly became a foundational skill in emergency medicine.

Expanding Access and Awareness

• 1970s–1980s: CPR training was introduced to the general public, not just healthcare providers. Programs were developed for schools, workplaces, and community centers.

  
  

• 1990: The concept of the “Chain of Survival” was introduced to emphasize the importance of early intervention in cardiac arrest cases.

  
  

• 2000s: Hands-only CPR gained support, especially for untrained bystanders. Research showed that chest compressions alone could still significantly increase survival.

Today: High-Tech Tools and Hands-On Training

Modern CPR continues to evolve with technology and research:

• AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators): Now commonly found in airports, malls, schools, and gyms, AEDs allow bystanders to shock a person’s heart back into rhythm—safely and easily.

  
  

• CPR Apps & Online Training: CPR is more accessible than ever, with virtual courses, videos, and mobile apps teaching step-by-step instructions.

  
  

• Continuous Research: The American Heart Association updates CPR guidelines every 5 years based on the latest science.

Why It Matters

The history of CPR is more than a story of medical innovation—it’s a testament to how knowledge, persistence, and public education can change lives. From early experiments to life-saving techniques taught around the globe, CPR has evolved into one of the most critical tools in emergency care.

More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year in the U.S. alone—and CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

Conclusion

The story of CPR is still being written—and you can be part of it. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or just someone who wants to be ready, learning CPR equips you to help when every second counts.