CPR

Step 1: Ensure Safety

  • Make sure the scene is safe for both you and the victim. Avoid exposing yourself to potential harm.

Step 2: Check Responsiveness

  • Gently tap the person’s shoulder and shout, “Are you OK?” to check for responsiveness. If there is no response, call for emergency help immediately or ask someone else to do so.

Step 3: Call for Help

  • If the person is unresponsive, call the local emergency number yourself or instruct a bystander to call. If you’re alone, perform CPR for at least two minutes before making the call, unless you have immediate access to a phone.

Step 4: Open the Airway

  • Place the person on their back and tilt their head back slightly by lifting the chin. This helps open the airway.

Step 5: Check for Breathing

  • Check for breathing by listening closely to the person’s mouth and nose for breath sounds and watching for chest movement. Do this for no more than 10 seconds.

Step 6: Begin Chest Compressions

  • If the person is not breathing or only gasping, start chest compressions immediately:
    • Place the heel of one hand on the center of the person’s chest, then place your other hand on top, interlocking your fingers.
    • Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands.
    • Use your body weight to compress the chest at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to return to its original position after each compression.

Step 7: Open the Airway and Give Rescue Breaths

  • After 30 compressions, open the airway again by tilting the head and lifting the chin.
  • Pinch the person’s nose shut, take a normal breath, make a complete seal over the person’s mouth with yours, and blow to make the chest clearly rise. Give 2 rescue breaths. Each breath should take about 1 second.

Step 8: Continue CPR

  • Continue performing cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. If you have been trained in CPR and feel confident, you can alternate between compressions and breaths. If not, performing chest compressions alone is still highly effective.

Step 9: Use an AED if Available

  • If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it as soon as possible. Follow the voice prompts carefully. CPR should be resumed immediately after the AED delivers a shock or advises no shock.

Step 10: Don’t Stop

  • Continue CPR until medical help arrives, the person starts to breathe or move, or you are too exhausted to continue.

It’s important to receive formal training in CPR and AED use to ensure you’re performing these life-saving techniques correctly. Many organizations offer courses, and staying updated on the latest guidelines is crucial.