When a cardiac emergency strikes, every second counts and immediate CPR from a bystander can triple a person’s chance of survival.
Aidan Clifford, a rising senior at the Indiana University School of Nursing in Bloomington, wants to make sure everyone is ready to step in and save a life. His goal? Equip as many people as possible with the skills and confidence to respond before professional help arrives, especially in rural towns where help may be delayed.
Clifford volunteers at the Southeast Chapter of the American Red Cross, less than 2 miles from the Bloomington campus. The Southeast Chapter of the Red Cross serves more than 1.1 million people across 25 southern counties. Volunteers like Clifford help people learn life-saving skills, provide disaster relief, as well as assist with blood drives. Since joining the volunteer corps in 2024, Clifford has been driven to teach hands-only CPR in the Bloomington community.
“I've always wanted to use my background in healthcare to give back, and this was the perfect opportunity,” Clifford said. “Training others in CPR is essential because it's one of those rare skills where a layperson can save a life before emergency responders arrive. It empowers everyday people to be part of the solution in critical moments.”
Be Prepared to Save a Life
Watch the Red Cross video to learn the simple steps of hands-only CPR. To earn a 2-year certification, take a CPR/AED class in-person, online, or a blend of both. Find a class and be prepared when an emergency happens.
Hands-only CPR involves calling 911, sending someone for the automated external defibrillator (AED) if available, and then giving continuous chest compressions. By removing rescue breaths, hands-only CPR is easier to learn and increases the likelihood that a bystander will intervene to give aid, according to the Red Cross. The skill can be learned in as little as half an hour.
Each year, emergency medical services treat more than 350,000 people in the U.S. experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with 71% of the events happening in the home, reports the Red Cross. Having immediate CPR can triple the chance of survival.
Originally from the rural town of Valparaiso, Indiana, Clifford understands having more residents in rural communities trained in life-saving CPR can be essential.
“In my clinical experiences, I've seen that people in rural areas often face significant barriers to care, limited access to nearby providers, transportation challenges, and sometimes a lack of trust in healthcare systems,” he said. “Many also delay care until conditions become emergencies, which can complicate outcomes. I think initiatives like hands-only CPR and broader community education are essential in addressing those gaps. Empowering people with skills and knowledge is a great place to start.”
Clifford first learned hands-only CPR during his early healthcare training but said he has had many refreshers through his clinical studies and work as a patient care technician.
“Aidan attended one of the community health screening clinics our students are involved with and set up information on the importance of hands-only CPR,” said Britney Arce, PhD, MSN, RN, clinical assistant professor at the IU School of Nursing in Bloomington.
"His involvement with the Red Cross brought a great addition to the health screening clinics,” she added. “He was able to provide valuable information to the public and apply what he is learning. I appreciate the initiative he took to ask about how he can incorporate his Red Cross volunteer work into the School of Nursing.”