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CPR Month: Every Life Deserves a Chance. Prepare to Respond.

November is CPR Month. It is a time to learn how to act when someone is unresponsive and not breathing. CPR can help keep blood and oxygen moving until more advanced care takes over.

Many people want to help but hesitate. They may be afraid touching someone's chest, doing CPR wrong, or making the situation worse. Training builds the confidence to act for anyone who needs help.

Find a CPR course near you

What is CPR month?

CPR Month is an annual public awareness campaign organized by the Canadian Red Cross, observed every November. It reminds Canadians to learn CPR, keep their skills current, and be ready to help in an emergency.

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is a first aid skill used when someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally. CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) can improve the chance of survival when used quickly.

Why CPR training matters

What can stop people from giving CPR?

In an emergency, hesitation is common. People may worry about doing CPR incorrectly, hurting the person, touching or exposing someone's chest, helping a person with breasts, legal risk, or panicking and waiting for someone else to act.

CPR training helps reduce these barriers. You learn what to do, how to use an AED, and how to respond with more confidence. Every life deserves help.

Choose the CPR or first aid course that fits your needs

Canadian Red Cross courses help you build practical skills for home, work, school, and community settings.

  • CPR/AED course: Learn CPR, AED use, and how to respond to cardiovascular emergencies and choking.
  • Basic/Emergency First Aid & CPR:One-day course to learn essential first aid and CPR skills for common emergencies.
  • Intermediate/Standard First Aid & CPR: Two-day course to build broader first aid knowledge and meet many workplace training needs.
  • Childcare First Aid & CPR - Learn skills and knowledge to prevent injuries among children and babies.
  • Basic Life Support and Professional Responder courses - Build advanced skills for health care, public safety, and responder roles.

View all First Aid and CPR courses

Free CPR and AED resources

Shop CPR month supplies

Training is the best first step. It also helps to keep first aid, and CPR supplies easy to reach at home, at work, and in community spaces.

During CPR Month, visit the Canadian Red Cross eShop for special pricing on selected CPR supplies and rebates on AED units.

Shop CPR month supplies
 

CPR month FAQ

CPR can help keep blood and oxygen moving when someone has a cardiac arrest. Immediate CPR and AED use can improve the chance of survival.
An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a device that can check a person's heart rhythm and deliver a shock if needed.
Yes. Canadian Red Cross CPR courses include AED training so learners can practise both skills together.
Yes. Training gives you practice, feedback, and clear steps to follow so you can feel more prepared in an emergency.
Visit our course catalog to find a Canadian Red Cross CPR and First Aid course near you.
Start by assessing where AEDs are needed, choosing safe locations, training people in CPR and AED use, and setting a maintenance plan. Learn more about launching a Public Access to Defibrillation Program.
Call 911 or the local emergency number right away, help the person rest, and follow emergency instructions. If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally, start CPR and use an AED if one is available. Learn more about what to do during a heart attack.
Compression-only CPR can be an option for an adult who suddenly collapses, especially if you are unable to give rescue breaths. Infants, children, drowning, and respiratory emergencies need full CPR with rescue breaths. Learn more about compression-only CPR.

More CPR learning tools:

This CPR Month, learn the skills to respond when someone needs help. Find a Canadian Red Cross First Aid & CPR course near you and prepare to act in an emergency.