How to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Performing CPR on an adult We use cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to keep someone alive after they have had a cardiac arrest and before emergency help arrives. A cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. How do I know if CPR is necessary? CPR on an adult is necessary if they are unconscious and not breathing at all. Check for a response – give them a gentle shake and ask loudly if they are OK. If they do not respond, CPR is needed. What do I do first? Get help. If there is someone close by, ask them to stay with you. The first thing to do is to call the emergency services. Someone else can do this for you, but if you are alone, you should do it before you start CPR. The emergency services will ask you some questions and may give you instructions for what to do. Two kinds of CPR • Basic CPR involves pressing down on the patient’s chest. These are called chest compressions. • If you know how to do it, you can also give rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth). Do not do this unless you have had training recently. Chest compressions The patient should be lying flat on their back. Kneel next to the patient and put the bottom of your hand in the centre of their chest. Place your other hand on top of the first hand and lock your fingers together. From above, press down hard. Keep your arms straight and use your body weight. The chest should move down about 5 cm. Then, let the chest come back up. Do this 100 to 120 times a minute until medical help arrives. This may take some time, and you will be tired. If there is someone that can help you, ask them to continue the compressions. You may need to explain to them what to do. You can take turns giving compressions until emergency help arrives or the patient responds. It is important that you do not stop doing the compressions. Chest compressions with rescue breaths You must not do this unless you know exactly what you’re doing. Perform the chest compressions as above. After every 30 compressions, move the patient’s head back a little by lifting their chin with two fingers, then close their nose with your other hand. Place your mouth over the patient’s mouth and blow for about one second. Do this twice. Check that their chest is rising. Repeat the compressions and rescue breaths (30 compressions followed by two breaths) until they respond or emergency help arrives.