What are the State CPR Guidelines in Texas?

Being familiar with the CPR guidelines is essential for anyone who might respond to a medical emergency. In Texas, these guidelines follow nationally recognized standards and reflect state laws that affect schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and public safety. Knowing these rules and how they relate to obtaining a CPR provider card helps both individuals and organizations act quickly.

This guide explains current CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) standards in Texas, highlights state-specific requirements, clarifies CPR provider card rules, and shows how training strengthens community safety.

Where CPR Guidelines Come From

Texas relies on the American Heart Association’s (AHA) evidence-based CPR recommendations. Experts regularly update these guidelines to reflect the latest research in resuscitation and emergency care.

Healthcare providers, employers, and organizations across Texas follow these standards to ensure CPR is performed effectively and consistently in hospitals, schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

Essential CPR Procedures Everyone Should Know

CPR relies on two main actions: chest compressions and, when indicated, rescue breaths.

• Chest compressions move oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs.
• Rescue breaths supply oxygen to the lungs when trained responders provide them.

Current CPR best practices:

1. Perform compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute.
2. Press firmly and allow the chest to fully recoil.
3. Minimize interruptions in compressions.
4. Use an AED as soon as it is available.

For adults, untrained bystanders should perform hands-only CPR, focusing only on chest compressions. This approach encourages more people to act without hesitation.

Step-by-Step CPR Instructions in Texas

Quick action can save lives. Follow these steps if someone needs CPR:

Step 1: Ensure Safety and Responsiveness: Make sure the area is safe (no traffic or fire hazards). Tap the person and call out. If they don’t respond, act immediately.

Step 2: Call EMS: Ask someone nearby to call 911. If alone, call first and use speaker mode to keep your hands free. Texas Good Samaritan laws protect you while helping.

Step 3: Check Breathing: Look for normal breathing. If the person isn’t breathing or is gasping, begin compressions immediately.

Step 4: Position Your Hands: Place one hand’s heel at the center of the chest (between the nipples). Place the other hand on top, fingers interlocked. Keep your arms straight and shoulders above 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 between compressions.

Step 6: Provide Rescue Breaths (if trained): After 30 compressions, tilt the head, lift the chin, pinch the nose, and give two slow breaths. If you prefer, continue with compressions only.

Step 7: Continue Until Help Arrives: Repeat cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths until:

• Emergency responders arrive
• An AED is ready to use
• The person breathes normally
• You become too exhausted
• Use an AED immediately if one is accessible in public areas.

Texas-Specific CPR Rules

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

1. CPR Training in Texas Schools

Texas law requires secondary school students to receive CPR instruction before graduation. Training includes:

• Recognizing cardiac arrest
• Calling emergency medical services
• Performing chest compressions
• Using an AED

The goal is to enhance bystander response and improve outcomes statewide.

2. Legal Protections for CPR Providers

Texas Good Samaritan laws protect people who provide emergency aid, including CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) use, in good faith and without expecting payment. These protections encourage immediate action and highlight the value of effective CPR instruction.

3. AED Use and Placement

Texas strongly promotes early defibrillation. AEDs are often required or recommended in:

• Schools
• Fitness Centers
• Large Workplaces
• Public Buildings

The state emphasizes combining AED use with high-quality chest compressions to maximize survival in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

CPR Provider Card Requirements in Texas

This state does not issue a single statewide CPR license. CPR course completion cards depend on profession, employer policies, and regulatory standards.

Common roles that require a CPR card include:

1. Healthcare Professionals
2. Firefighters
3. Athletic Coaches/Trainers
4. Nurses and Nursing Assistants
5. Teachers and School Staff
6. Social Workers and Volunteers

BLS, ACLS, and PALS: Advanced CPR Levels

For healthcare professionals, CPR skills are the core lifesaving technique used when a person’s heart or breathing stops, and it forms the foundation for all levels of advanced resuscitation. 

1. Basic Life Support (BLS)

BLS focuses on early recognition of cardiac arrest and immediate CPR, including chest compressions, rescue breaths, and use of an AED. It is intended for both healthcare providers and trained lay rescuers, emphasizing rapid intervention to maintain circulation and oxygenation until advanced care arrives. 

2. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)

ACLS builds on BLS, and it is for healthcare professionals managing adults in cardiac arrest or other cardiovascular emergencies. ACLS includes advanced interventions such as defibrillation, airway management, intravenous medications, and cardiac rhythm recognition, all performed alongside continuous CPR. 

3. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) 

PALS is similar to ACLS, but it is for infants and children, incorporating pediatric-specific CPR techniques, early recognition of respiratory distress, and age-appropriate medications and interventions. 

Together, BLS, ACLS, and PALS represent a sequence of resuscitation skills, with CPR at the center, ensuring life-saving care from basic to advanced levels for both adults and children.

Explore our CPR Courses to determine which class best suits your needs.

How CPR Training Helps Texas Communities

Training in CPR strengthens public health and safety across the state:

1. Save Lives Fast: Immediate CPR improves survival chances.
2. Empower Residents: People respond confidently in any setting.
3. Enhance Safety: Schools, workplaces, and childcare centers benefit from prepared staff.
4. Bridge Gaps: Rural areas get support before EMS arrives; cities improve outcomes.
5. Strengthen Preparedness: Communities create coordinated response networks and improve AED access.
6. Protect Health: Early action prevents severe complications and aids faster recovery.

Keep Your CPR Knowledge Current

CPR guidelines evolve with new research. Staying updated ensures:

1. Skills remain accurate and effective
2. Responders follow best practices
3. Confidence stays high during emergencies

Outdated knowledge can reduce effectiveness and increase risks.

Strengthening Safety with CPR in Texas

In Texas, CPR training combines national standards with state laws to promote quick, confident lifesaving action. By teaching recognition, response, AED use, and providing legal protection, CPR education strengthens community preparedness and helps ensure timely help during cardiac emergencies.

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, student, parent, or coach, Bayside CPR helps you gain confidence in lifesaving skills. Start by taking the included online course at your convenience. Next, attend a short 30-minute hands-on session at one of our three convenient locations: North Houston, Pasadena, or Sugar Land. Our AHA CPR courses, including ACLS, BLS, and PALS, are developed to fit your schedule and needs. After completing both components, you’ll receive your official course completion card, ready to use immediately. Sign up today and acquire the skills and confidence to save a life.