What are the official CPR guidelines and requirements for Maryland?

Knowing CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) guidelines is essential for anyone who may need to respond during a medical emergency. In Maryland, these guidelines are based on nationally recognized standards, while also reflecting state laws that influence schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and public safety practices. Understanding how the guidelines apply and how they relate to CPR provider card requirements in Maryland helps both individuals and organizations be ready when time is critical.

This guide outlines Maryland’s current CPR guidelines, highlights state-specific requirements, explains card expectations, and emphasizes the importance of training in strengthening community safety.

Official Sources of CPR Guidelines

In Maryland, CPR guidelines are guided by evidence-based recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA) and are updated regularly to incorporate the latest findings in resuscitation science and clinical research.

Healthcare organizations, employers, and training providers throughout the state follow AHA-aligned standards to ensure that CPR is performed correctly and consistently in both professional and community settings.

Core CPR Techniques for All Ages

CPR primarily involves two key actions: chest compressions and, when necessary, rescue breaths.

• Chest compressions help circulate oxygenated blood to the brain and essential organs, while rescue breaths supply oxygen to the lungs when the responder is trained, and the situation calls for it.
• Current CPR recommendations include:
• Performing compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute
• Pushing firmly and allowing full chest recoil
• Minimizing pauses in compressions
• Using an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) as soon as it is accessible

For untrained individuals responding to adult cardiac arrest, hands-only CPR is advised. This approach focuses exclusively on chest compressions and is intended to encourage more bystanders to take action.

Maryland CPR Requirements You Need to Know

Although CPR techniques are generally consistent across the U.S., Maryland has specific regulations and legal considerations that shape how CPR training and emergency response are implemented.

1. CPR Education in Maryland Schools

Maryland law mandates that secondary schools include CPR and AED training as part of health education before graduation. Students learn to recognize cardiac arrest, call 911, perform chest compressions, and operate an AED.

This requirement aims to increase bystander intervention and improve survival rates throughout the state.

2. Legal Protections for CPR Providers

Maryland’s Good Samaritan laws safeguard individuals who provide emergency care, including CPR and AED use, as long as it is done in good faith and without expecting payment.

These protections help reduce hesitation and encourage prompt action during emergencies, though proper training remains essential for accuracy and confidence.

3. AED Guidelines and Expectations

Maryland strongly promotes early defibrillation. AEDs are often required or recommended in settings such as:

1. Schools: Early defibrillation is strongly promoted in schools to protect students and staff. Life-saving devices are often installed to provide immediate response during cardiac emergencies.
2. Fitness Centers: Fitness centers are recommended to have life-saving devices on-site. Quick access can make a critical difference during sudden cardiac events.
3. Large Workplaces: Many large workplaces are required to provide defibrillation equipment for employees. Using these devices promptly increases survival chances in workplace cardiac arrests.
4. Public Facilities: Public buildings are encouraged to have life-saving equipment readily available. This ensures rapid intervention for anyone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

State CPR guidelines stress combining early AED use with high-quality chest compressions to maximize survival during sudden cardiac arrest.

Who Is Required To Have CPR Training in Maryland

In Maryland, certain people need CPR training to stay ready for emergencies. This includes those who help others stay safe and healthy every day.

1. Healthcare Professionals: Doctors, therapists, and medical staff must know CPR to protect patients.
2. Firefighters: They need CPR skills to respond quickly during emergencies.
3. Athletic Coaches and Trainers: CPR helps them act fast if athletes get hurt.
4. Nurses and Nursing Assistants: They provide care and must respond to sudden medical problems.
5. Teachers and School Staff: Knowing CPR keeps students safe at school.

How BLS, ACLS, and PALS are Related to CPR 

These are all advanced levels of training in CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. They are related because each teaches CPR skills for specific patient populations and clinical situations. Here’s a breakdown:

1. BLS (Basic Life Support)

1. Purpose: Provides foundational CPR skills
2. Population: Adults, children, and infants in basic emergencies.
3. Focus:

• Recognizing cardiac arrest.
• Performing high-quality CPR (chest compressions + rescue breaths).
• Using an AED .
• Relief of choking (airway obstruction).

Relation to CPR: BLS is the core CPR training. Everyone who performs CPR should know BLS first. It’s the building block for ACLS and PALS.

2. ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

1. Purpose: Builds on BLS with advanced interventions for adults.
2. Population: Adult patients in cardiac arrest or life-threatening cardiovascular emergencies.
3. Focus:

• Recognition and management of cardiac arrest rhythms (VF, VT, asystole, PEA).
• Advanced airway management.
• IV/IO access and emergency medications (like epinephrine, amiodarone).
• Post-resuscitation care and team-based response.

Relation to CPR: ACLS incorporates BLS skills into more advanced, hospital-based scenarios. CPR remains central, but with added emphasis on rhythm recognition and medication administration.

3. PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)

1. Purpose: Advanced CPR and emergency care tailored to children and infants.
2. Population: Infants and children (newborn to adolescent) with life-threatening emergencies.
3. Focus:

• Pediatric assessment and recognition of respiratory or cardiac distress.
• Age-appropriate CPR techniques.
• Management of pediatric cardiac rhythms and shock.
• Airway management and pediatric medication dosing.

Relation to CPR: PALS modifies CPR techniques to fit pediatric physiology and emergencies. The foundation is still BLS, but adapted for children.

All three programs emphasize high-quality chest compressions, early defibrillation, and effective emergency response, making them interconnected layers of CPR training. Explore our CPR course options to select the one that works best for you.

How to Perform CPR in Maryland

Acting quickly can save a life. Follow these steps if someone needs CPR:

Step1: Ensure Safety and Check Responsiveness

Make sure the area is safe, watch for traffic, fire, or other hazards. Tap the person and call their name. If there’s no response, act immediately.

Step 2: Call for Help

Dial 911 right away. If you’re alone, call first and use speaker mode so your hands remain free. In Maryland, Good Samaritan laws protect people who provide emergency aid in good faith.

Step 3: Assess Breathing

Check if the person is breathing normally. If they are not breathing or are only gasping, start chest compressions immediately.

Step 4: Place Your Hands Correctly

Position the heel of one hand in the center of the chest (between the nipples) and the other hand on top with fingers interlocked. Keep your arms straight, shoulders over your hands.

Step 5: Perform Chest Compressions

Push hard and fast, about 2 inches deep, at 100-120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to fully rise after each push.

Step 6: Give Rescue Breaths (if trained)

After 30 compressions, tilt the head back, lift the chin, pinch the nose, and give two slow breaths. If you are untrained or prefer, you can continue compressions only.

Step 7: Continue Until Help Arrives

Repeat 30 compressions and 2 breaths until:

• Emergency responders arrive
• An AED is available
• The person starts breathing normally
• You are physically unable to continue

Tip: Use an AED immediately if one is accessible. In Maryland, public AEDs are often found in schools, shopping centers, government buildings, and sports arenas. Follow the device’s voice prompts; it can save a life.

Staying Current: Why CPR Renewal Matters

CPR recommendations change as new research emerges, which can influence compression depth, rate, use of AEDs, and team coordination methods.

Keeping your CPR provider card current and regularly practicing helps ensure that:

• Your skills stay precise and effective
• You follow the latest recommended procedures
• You remain confident during emergencies

Using outdated CPR knowledge can lower effectiveness and increase potential risks.

How CPR Training Impacts Maryland Communities

CPR training directly improves public safety and health outcomes in Maryland. When more residents receive training:

1. Lives Are Saved: Performing CPR immediately can double or triple a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. Trained bystanders in Maryland can provide life-saving care before emergency responders arrive.
2. Faster Emergency Response: Communities with widespread CPR knowledge can respond quickly, reducing delays and improving outcomes, while waiting for EMS.
3. Empowered Residents: CPR training builds confidence, equipping Marylanders to act decisively in high-stress situations.
4. Stronger Community Health Awareness: Awareness of CPR and AED use encourages safer environments in schools, workplaces, public spaces, and homes.
5. Supports Legal Protection: Knowing state laws reassures residents that providing CPR in good faith is legally protected, encouraging more people to take action.

The Importance of CPR in Maryland

In summary, following the state’s CPR guidelines, which align with national standards, helps you act quickly and correctly in emergencies. Knowing CPR and keeping your skills up to date can make a real difference, as using chest compressions, giving rescue breaths when trained, and applying an AED promptly can save lives. Training is required for many professionals and encouraged for everyone, so more people are ready to help. 

By practicing regularly, staying current, and understanding legal protections, Maryland residents can feel confident stepping in to protect others and strengthen safety in their communities.To make learning these lifesaving skills easier, Bayside CPR in Maryland offers CPR programs for anyone, including healthcare workers, students, parents, or coaches. Start with the online course at a time that works for you, then attend a brief 30-minute hands-on session at one of our 19 convenient locations. Our AHA CPR courses, including BLS, ACLS, and PALS, are developed to fit your schedule and learning needs. After completing both components, you’ll receive your official course completion card, ready to use right away. Enroll today and gain the skills and confidence to make a real difference in an emergency.