CPR as we know it today was first invented in 1960 by Dr Kouwenhoven, Dr Safar and Dr Jude, but resuscitation as a concept has its origins centuries earlier.
Reports from as early as 1732 describe mouth–to-mouth resuscitation, and in 1740, the Academie des Sciences in Paris officially recommended mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for victims of drowning.
However, it wasn’t until 1904 that Dr George Crile reported a successful human case of a closed-chest cardiac massage (known today as chest compressions). This technique took a long time to gain traction until it was eventually combined with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to form modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, in 1960.
Keep reading for a detailed timeline of the history of CPR, from early 16th-century methods to present-day 21st-century techniques.
CPR invention timeline
From early mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques in the 1700s to today’s AED-supported CPR protocols, CPR has evolved into one of the most important emergency medical procedures in the world.
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1530s-1850s: Early Techniques and Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation
1530-1850s: The Bellows Method, introduced by Swiss physician Paracelsus, is used to force air directly into the lungs.
1732: In Scotland, local surgeon William Tossach uses mouth-to-mouth breaths to revive a coal miner.
1740: The Academie des Sciences in Paris officially recommends mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for drowning victims.
1774: The Royal Humane Society is founded in London by physicians William Hawes and Thomas Cogan to promote resuscitation techniques for drowning victims.
1850s: The Hall and Silvester methods become the most widely used forms of artificial respiration.
1856: London physician Marshall Hall introduced his resuscitation technique (sometimes referred to as the ‘Ready Method’) - the patient was placed first down to encourage expiration (breathing out), then turned to their side to stimulate inspiration(breathing in).
1858: Another London physician, Henry Silvester, formulates his resuscitation technique, which involves raising the patient’s arms above their head to encourage inspiration (breathing in), and then crossing the arms across the chest to encourage expiration (breathing out). The Silvester method was widely adopted by organisations like the Humane Society in Britain.
1870s-1950s: Open-Heart Massage Is Replaced by Closed-Chest Cardiac Massage (Chest Compressions)
1874: German physiologist Moritz Schiff undertakes research that shows that massaging the heart during surgery can restore circulation.
Late 1800s-early 1960s: Open-heart massage becomes the standard, a technique primarily used for patients undergoing surgery or who have suffered from severe chest trauma.
1891: German surgeon Friedrich Maass reports successful closed-chest cardiac compressions in humans, but this technique doesn’t gain traction.
1904: Dr George Crile reports the first successful human case of a closed-chest cardiac massage.
1933: Researchers at Johns Hopkins University accidentally rediscover chest compressions when they find that pressure on a dog's sternum provides artificial circulation.
1947: Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Claude Beck performs the first successful use of a defibrillator on a human heart.
1950s-1970s: Modern CPR is Invented and Popularised
1956: Dr Elam and Dr Safar prove that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is an effective life-saving treatment.
1957: Researchers at Johns Hopkins University unveil the first portable external defibrillator prototype.
1960: Dr Kouwenhoven, Dr Safar and Dr Jude invent modern CPR, combining mouth-to-mouth resuscitation with closed-chest cardiac massage.
1960: Resusci Anne is first produced - a life-sized training manikin to help teach CPR.
1965: Belfast cardiologist Frank Pantridge develops the first portable defibrillator, allowing defibrillation to be performed outside hospitals.
1972: The first mass CPR training programme is launched by cardiologist Dr Leonard Cobb (Medic II) in Seattle.
1980s-Present: Modern CPR and AED Expansion
1990s: Public-access defibrillators begin appearing across the UK in airports, railway stations and shopping centres.
1983: Resuscitation Council UK is founded to develop national resuscitation guidelines, training standards and public CPR education in the UK.
2015: Restart a Heart Day expands across the UK, training hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren and members of the public in CPR each year.
2018: The AHA publishes “Resuscitation Education Science: Educational Strategies to Improve Outcomes from Cardiac Arrest” with the latest best practices.
2020: The UK launches The Circuit, a national database linking public AEDs to ambulance services to improve emergency response times.
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency lifesaving technique designed to be used when someone’s heart or breathing has stopped. It combines chest compressions with rescue breaths to maintain blood flow and provide oxygen until emergency services arrive.
According to the Resuscitation Council UK:
“CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The term embraces all the procedures from basic first aid to the most advanced medical interventions that can be used to restore breathing and circulation in someone whose heart and breathing have stopped.”
When and where was CPR first developed?
Modern CPR was developed in the 1950s and standardised in 1960 by Dr Kouwenhoven, Dr Safar and Dr Jude in Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
It was created by combining modern mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques (pioneered by Dr Elam and Dr Safar), with closed chest compressions (rediscovered by researchers at Johns Hopkins - Dr Kouwenhoven, Dr Knickerbocker, and Dr Jude).
The groundbreaking technique was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 1960, and endorsed by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 1963.
Who invented CPR?
Dr Peter Safar is widely considered to be the father of modern CPR, who pioneered the combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions in the late 1950s.
However, there were multiple key figures involved in the development of modern-day CPR in the late 1950s, leading to its standardisation in 1960:
Dr Peter Safar: An anesthesiologist who developed the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) and popularised mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the late 1950s.
Dr James Elam: Worked alongside Dr Safar to scientifically prove that expired air from mouth-to-mouth breathing could provide enough oxygen to sustain life.
Dr William Kouwenhoven: An electrical engineer and professor at Johns Hopkins University who helped rediscover and refine closed-chest compressions after observing their effect during defibrillation research.
Dr Guy Knickerbocker: Part of the Johns Hopkins research team that identified how rhythmic pressure on the chest could maintain blood circulation during cardiac arrest.
Dr James Jude: A surgeon who collaborated with Kouwenhoven and Knickerbocker to test and successfully apply chest compressions in human patients.
How was CPR invented?
Modern CPR was developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by combining mouth-to-mouth resuscitation techniques with closed chest compressions. However, these techniques were the result of centuries of scientific research and innovation stemming from the 1700s when mouth-to-mouth breathing was first used to revive a suffocated coal miner.
Here’s a simple overview of how CPR was developed:
1. 1700s: Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was first experimented with to help revive victims of drowning.
2. 1800s: Other artificial respiration techniques were developed, such as the Hall and Silvester methods.
3. Late 1800s-1900s: Open heart massage was introduced, which was then replaced by closed heart massage, laying the foundations for modern chest compressions.
4. 1950s: At Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr Safar and Dr Elam proved that mouth-to-mouth was more effective than other artificial respiration techniques. At a similar time, Dr Kouwenhoven, Dr Knickerbocker and Dr Jude rediscovered closed chest compressions and found these could maintain blood circulation during cardiac arrest.
5. 1960: These two techniques were combined to create modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): chest compressions to circulate blood and rescue breaths to provide oxygen.
What has changed since CPR was invented in 1960?
Since the formal introduction of modern CPR in 1960, there have been a few notable shifts in technique and best practices:
1. Shift in Sequence: ABC to CAB
The most significant change since 1960 has been the move away from ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to CAB (Circulation, Airway, Breathing).
2. Rise of Hands-Only CPR
In 2008, Hands-Only CPR was introduced for untrained bystanders. Instead of combining rescue breaths and compressions, this technique focuses only on providing continuous compressions. It’s designed for bystanders with no formal CPR training, or those who might feel unwilling or unable to provide traditional mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Hands-Only CPR consists of 2 simple steps:
Call 999 immediately or ask someone else to do it.
Provide rapid chest compressions
Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest (between the nipples), place the other hand on top and lock elbows
Push hard and fast (around 5 cm deep) at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute - roughly the pace of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees.
Continue until help arrives or the person shows signs of life.
3. Improved Compression Guidelines
The latest 2025 guidelines by the Resuscitation Council UK now specify ideal compression depth and rate to maximise effectiveness. Current recommendations advise compressions at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute and a depth of around 5–6 cm in adults.
Download our free CPR Poster, which provides a clear overview of the latest best practices and is designed for workplace display.
4. Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
Public-access defibrillators became increasingly common in the UK from the 1990s onwards. Modern first aid and CPR training now includes AED use, as early defibrillation can dramatically improve survival chances after sudden cardiac arrest.
Why CPR training still matters today
Although CPR has evolved since its invention in 1960, the core principle has remained the same: immediate action saves lives. Modern research and techniques have made CPR more effective and accessible than ever.
However, regular first aid training is still crucial to ensure that individuals remain up to date with the latest best practices and feel confident to act in the event of an emergency.
In-house first aid training from First Aid Safety
Cooling a burn safely and quickly is the best way to reduce the severity of the injury. While the guidance in this blog outlines how to respond to a burn or scald, it’s not a replacement for structured first aid training, which gives you the skills to act quickly and confidently in an emergency situation.
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For additional guidance and practical insight, you may also find the following articles useful:
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