CPR steps: A guide on how to do CPR

CPR is a life-saving technique that keeps a person's blood flow until healthcare professionals arrive. Even individuals without first aid training can play a crucial role by following the CPR steps.

Initiating CPR immediately after a person's heart stops can double or even triple their chances of survival.

CPR Steps: Quick Reference

Administer CPR when an adult isn't breathing, gasping occasionally, and unresponsive to stimuli. For children and infants, apply CPR when they're not breathing normally and unresponsive. Ensure the area is safe and follow these fundamental CPR steps:

1. Call 911 or have someone else do so.
2. Lay the person on their back and open their airway.
3. Check for breathing. If they're not breathing, initiate CPR.
4. Perform 30 chest compressions.
5. Perform two rescue breaths.
6. Continue until emergency medical help or an automated external defibrillator (AED) arrives.

CPR Step-by-Step: Adults

CPR involves two main stages: preparation and CPR itself.

Preparation Steps

Step 1: Call 911

Assess the scene for potential dangers or risk factors, such as traffic, falling debris, fire, etc.

Check the person's responsiveness by tapping their shoulder and asking, "Are you OK?"

If they are unresponsive, call 911 or instruct a bystander to do so. If possible, ask someone to fetch an AED. People can usually find these in offices and many other public buildings.

Step 2: Lay the person on their back and open their airway

Carefully lay the person on their back and kneel beside their chest.

Slightly tilt their head by lifting their chin.

Open and examine their mouth for obstructions and remove any food or vomit. Do not attempt to remove non-loose obstructions. Attempting to remove it may push it farther into the airway.

Step 3: Check for breathing

Listen for breathing by placing your ear near their mouth for up to 10 seconds.

If no breathing or only occasional gasps are heard, initiate CPR.

If the person is unconscious but still breathing, do not perform CPR. Instead, assess if they have a spinal injury. Note: Do not move them if you suspect any spinal injury as moving them can aggravate the injury.

if there is no spinal injury, place them in the recovery position. Keep monitoring their breathing and perform CPR if they stop breathing.

CPR Steps

Step 4: Perform 30 chest compressions

Place your hands, one on top of the other, and interlock your fingers.

With the heel of the hands and straight elbows, push hard and fast in the center of the chest, just slightly below the nipples. Push at least 2 inches deep, and at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute. Let the chest rise fully between compressions.

Step 5: Perform two rescue breaths

Ensure the mouth is clear.

Tilt their head slightly back, lift the chin, pinch the nose shut, place your mouth fully over theirs, and blow. Provide a 1-second breath to make the chest rise.

If the chest doesn't rise after the first breath, tilt the head and try again. If the chest still doesn't rise with the second breath, there is a possibility that the person might be choking.

Step 6: Repeat

Continue the cycle of 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths until the person breathes on their own or help arrives. If an AED arrives, continue CPR until the device is setup and ready for use.

CPR Step-by-Step: Children and Infants

CPR for children and infants differs slightly from CPR for adults.

Preparation Steps

Step 1: Call 911 or give 2 minutes of care

Assess the scene for dangers.

Check the child or infant to see whether they need help. For children, tap the child's shoulder and shout, "Are you OK?" For infants, flick the sole of their foot to see if they respond.

If you're alone with the child and they're unresponsive, provide 2 minutes of care and then call 911. If someone else is present, have them call 911 while you administer care.

Step 2: Place them on their back and open their airways

Carefully position the child or infant on their back and kneel beside their chest.

Tilt their head slightly back by lifting the chin.

Check their mouth for obstructions, removing only loose ones such as food or vomit. If it is not loose, do not try to remove it or you may end up pushing it farther into their airways.

Step 3: Check for breathing

Place your ear close, next to their mouth and listen for breathing sounds for approximately 10 seconds.

If you hear no breathing or if you only hear occasional gasps, begin CPR.

Note: Changes in an infant's breathing patterns are normal, as they usually have periodic breathing.

Keep monitoring their breathing and perform CPR if the breathing stops.

CPR Steps

Step 4: Perform two rescue breaths

For a child, pinch their nose shut and provide two breaths into their mouth.

For an infant, place your mouth over their nose and mouth and blow for 1-second to raise their chest. Deliver two rescue breaths.

If they are still not responding, start chest compressions.

Step 5: Perform 30 chest compressions

Kneel beside the child or infant.

For a child, use one hand. Place the heel of your hand at their sternum, which is in the center of the chest, between and slightly below their nipples. Press down hard and fast around 2 inches deep, or one-third the depth of the chest at a rate of at least 100 times per minute.

For an infant, use two fingers. Place your fingers in the center of their chest, between and slightly below the nipples, and do 30 quick compressions around 1.5 inches deep.

Step 6: Repeat

Continue the cycle of rescue breaths and chest compressions until the child or infant starts breathing or until help arrives.

When to Use CPR and When Not to

Administer CPR when an adult isn't breathing at all or when children and infants aren't breathing normally. Always do CPR if the adult or child is unresponsive to verbal or physical stimuli. CPR ensures that oxygenated blood reaches the brain. This is critical within the first 8 minutes to prevent brain damage or death.

CPR may be necessary in situations such as cardiac arrest, choking, road accidents, drowning, suffocation, poisoning, drug or alcohol overdose, smoke inhalation, electrocution, or suspected sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Summary

In summary, CPR is a vital first aid technique that can significantly improve a person's chances of survival during a cardiac event or a respiratory distress following an accident or trauma. While the steps vary for infants, children, and adults, the core principles of chest compressions and rescue breaths remain consistent. Always ensure the person is unresponsive before initiating CPR.