Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
-
Remember the
Universal Considerations.
-
Begin rescue breathing
. If there is no breathing:
-
Open the victim's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method.
-
Pinch the victim's nose.
-
Make a seal over the victim's mouth with yours. Use a CPR mask if available.
-
Give the victim a breath big enough to make the chest rise.
-
Let the chest fall, then repeat the rescue breath once more.
-
Begin chest compressions
.
-
Place the heel of your hand in the middle of the victim's chest. Put your other hand on top of the first with your fingers interlaced.
-
Compress the chest about 1-1/2 to 2 inches (4-5 cm). Allow the chest to completely recoil before the next compression.
-
Compress the chest at a rate equal to 100/minute. Perform 30 compressions at this rate.
-
Repeat rescue breaths
.
-
Open the airway with head-tilt, chin-lift again. This time, go directly to rescue breaths without checking for breathing again.
-
Give one breath, making sure the chest rises and falls, then give another.
-
Perform 30 more chest compressions
. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for about two minutes.
-
Stop compressions and recheck victim for breathing.
If the victim is not breathing, continue chest compressions and rescue breaths.
-
Keep going until help arrives.
Tips:
-
If you have acces to an automated external defibrillator, attach it to the victim after approximately one minute of CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths).
-
Chest compressions are extremely important. If you are not comfortable giving rescue breaths, still perform chest compressions!
-
It's normal to feel pops and snaps when you first begin chest compressions - DON'T STOP! You aren't going to make the victim any worse. Cardiac arrest is as bad as it gets.
-
When performing chest compressions, do not let your hands bounce. Let the chest fully recoil, but keep the heel of your hand in contact with the sternum at all times.
-
For more information on these steps go to the Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) Guidelines from the American Heart Association.