Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
CPR, Adult
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a skill that almost anyone can learn to perform. It can be lifesaving when performed on a person whose breathing or heartbeat has stopped. When the heart stops beating, the flow of blood to the brain and other vital organs also stops. This usually causes brain damage or death if not treated within minutes.
CPR consists of steps that are based on the CAB sequence: chest compressions, airway, and breathing.
If you see an adult collapse and lose consciousness or if you encounter an adult who appears to be unconscious, do the following:
1 Ensure scene safety. Quickly look at the area where the ill or injured person is located. Go to help the person only if the location (car, street, room, hillside) appears to be safe to enter.
2 Check for response. Shake the person or tap a …show more content…
shoulder and ask, “Are you all right?”
• If the person responds and is breathing normally but is ill or injured, call your local emergency services (911 in U.S.) and wait for help. While waiting, recheck the person frequently.
• If there is no response and the person is not breathing or is only gasping, continue to step 3.
3 Shout or call for help.
• If you are by yourself, shout for help. If someone responds, tell that person to call local emergency services (911 in U.S.). Also tell the person to get an automated external defibrillator (AED) if this equipment is nearby and accessible. If no one responds, call emergency services yourself.
• If there are two rescuers, one rescuer should prepare to begin CPR, and the second rescuer should call emergency services. The second rescuer should also get an AED if one is available. The AED provides an electric shock to the heart if necessary, which can restart the heart. AED devices are found in many airports, gyms, large buildings, sports facilities, and public transportation vehicles. After calling emergency services and possibly getting an AED, the second rescuer should return as soon as possible and use the AED (if available) or assist with CPR.
4 Position the person. If possible, the ill or injured person should be on a hard surface and should be facing up. You may need to roll the person into this
position.
5 Perform chest compressions. Kneel next to the person’s chest. Place the heel of one of your hands over the lower half of the person’s breastbone (sternum) at the middle of the chest. The heel of your other hand should be placed on top of the first hand so that the hands overlap and are somewhat parallel. To perform a compression, depress the chest at least 2 inches (5 cm). Then allow the chest to return completely to its normal position before the next compression. Compressions should be done very fast, at a rate of at least 100 per minute. Count the compressions while doing them. This will help you maintain the proper compression rate and identify when it is time to give rescue breaths.
• If there are two rescuers, one rescuer should perform chest compressions while the second rescuer opens the airway and gives rescue breaths as described in steps 6 and 7.
6 Open the airway. If possible, chest compressions should be combined with opening the airway and giving rescue breaths. If rescuers are untrained in providing breaths or are unable to give breaths, they should just perform chest compressions. If trained and able, rescuers should open the airway and give 2 rescue breaths after every 30 chest compressions. To open an adult's airway:
• Place one hand on the person's forehead and push with your palm to tilt the head back.
• Place the fingers of your other hand under the bony part of the lower jaw (not the soft part under the chin) to gently bring the chin forward. Remember "Head tilt, chin lift." If the person has been in a traumatic accident, be careful when moving the head and neck.
7 Give rescue breaths (if trained and able). If trained and able, after opening the airway, you should give 2 rescue breaths. To do this, kneel next to the person's head. While kneeling, bend forward to give 2 mouth-to-mouth breaths. Give the breaths while pinching the person’s nose closed and holding the airway open. Each breath should take about 1 second. Make sure the chest rises when you give a breath. If the chest does not rise, reposition the head and try a breath again.
8 Perform defibrillation. Any time that an AED is available and the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or only gasping, you should use the AED as soon as possible. Follow the directions on the device showing where to attach the external pads. Before delivering a shock, make sure no one is in contact with the person. The AED will automatically determine if a shock is necessary. If so, it will then deliver one shock. Once one shock is delivered, you should perform 2 minutes of CPR (about 5 cycles) before delivering another shock.
• If there are two rescuers, one rescuer should continue CPR while the second rescuer prepares to use the AED.
9 Continue CPR and defibrillation. If the person is still unresponsive, not breathing, or only gasping, you must continue CPR, starting with compressions. Continue with 2 minutes of compressions and breaths (5 cycles) followed by defibrillation (1 shock) until the person starts breathing normally or until ambulance personnel take over.
• If there are two rescuers, the rescuers should change roles every 2 minutes to maintain the quality and rate of chest compressions. The switch should take place as quickly as possible (in less than 5 seconds).
CPR is intense and strenuous for the rescuer, but it can be lifesaving. Rescuers can become tired fairly quickly. However, they need to keep in mind that they have a better chance of saving a life if they attempt CPR instead of doing nothing and waiting for ambulance personnel to arrive.
After ambulance personnel arrive, make sure you remain on the scene to give trained rescuers a report of what happened. This is an important part of the overall care provided to the sick or injured person.
Almost all communities have programs for training the public in the skills of CPR. Knowing how to perform CPR can be crucial if your help is needed in an emergency.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a skill that almost anyone can learn to perform. It can be lifesaving when performed on a person whose breathing or heartbeat has stopped. When the heart stops beating, the flow of blood to the brain and other vital organs also stops. This usually causes brain damage or death if not treated within minutes.
CPR consists of steps that are based on the CAB sequence: chest compressions, airway, and breathing.
If you see an adult collapse and lose consciousness or if you encounter an adult who appears to be unconscious, do the following:
1 Ensure scene safety. Quickly look at the area where the ill or injured person is located. Go to help the person only if the location (car, street, room, hillside) appears to be safe to enter.
2 Check for response. Shake the person or tap a …show more content…
shoulder and ask, “Are you all right?”
• If the person responds and is breathing normally but is ill or injured, call your local emergency services (911 in U.S.) and wait for help. While waiting, recheck the person frequently.
• If there is no response and the person is not breathing or is only gasping, continue to step 3.
3 Shout or call for help.
• If you are by yourself, shout for help. If someone responds, tell that person to call local emergency services (911 in U.S.). Also tell the person to get an automated external defibrillator (AED) if this equipment is nearby and accessible. If no one responds, call emergency services yourself.
• If there are two rescuers, one rescuer should prepare to begin CPR, and the second rescuer should call emergency services. The second rescuer should also get an AED if one is available. The AED provides an electric shock to the heart if necessary, which can restart the heart. AED devices are found in many airports, gyms, large buildings, sports facilities, and public transportation vehicles. After calling emergency services and possibly getting an AED, the second rescuer should return as soon as possible and use the AED (if available) or assist with CPR.
4 Position the person. If possible, the ill or injured person should be on a hard surface and should be facing up. You may need to roll the person into this
position.
5 Perform chest compressions. Kneel next to the person’s chest. Place the heel of one of your hands over the lower half of the person’s breastbone (sternum) at the middle of the chest. The heel of your other hand should be placed on top of the first hand so that the hands overlap and are somewhat parallel. To perform a compression, depress the chest at least 2 inches (5 cm). Then allow the chest to return completely to its normal position before the next compression. Compressions should be done very fast, at a rate of at least 100 per minute. Count the compressions while doing them. This will help you maintain the proper compression rate and identify when it is time to give rescue breaths.
• If there are two rescuers, one rescuer should perform chest compressions while the second rescuer opens the airway and gives rescue breaths as described in steps 6 and 7.
6 Open the airway. If possible, chest compressions should be combined with opening the airway and giving rescue breaths. If rescuers are untrained in providing breaths or are unable to give breaths, they should just perform chest compressions. If trained and able, rescuers should open the airway and give 2 rescue breaths after every 30 chest compressions. To open an adult's airway:
• Place one hand on the person's forehead and push with your palm to tilt the head back.
• Place the fingers of your other hand under the bony part of the lower jaw (not the soft part under the chin) to gently bring the chin forward. Remember "Head tilt, chin lift." If the person has been in a traumatic accident, be careful when moving the head and neck.
7 Give rescue breaths (if trained and able). If trained and able, after opening the airway, you should give 2 rescue breaths. To do this, kneel next to the person's head. While kneeling, bend forward to give 2 mouth-to-mouth breaths. Give the breaths while pinching the person’s nose closed and holding the airway open. Each breath should take about 1 second. Make sure the chest rises when you give a breath. If the chest does not rise, reposition the head and try a breath again.
8 Perform defibrillation. Any time that an AED is available and the person is unresponsive, not breathing, or only gasping, you should use the AED as soon as possible. Follow the directions on the device showing where to attach the external pads. Before delivering a shock, make sure no one is in contact with the person. The AED will automatically determine if a shock is necessary. If so, it will then deliver one shock. Once one shock is delivered, you should perform 2 minutes of CPR (about 5 cycles) before delivering another shock.
• If there are two rescuers, one rescuer should continue CPR while the second rescuer prepares to use the AED.
9 Continue CPR and defibrillation. If the person is still unresponsive, not breathing, or only gasping, you must continue CPR, starting with compressions. Continue with 2 minutes of compressions and breaths (5 cycles) followed by defibrillation (1 shock) until the person starts breathing normally or until ambulance personnel take over.
• If there are two rescuers, the rescuers should change roles every 2 minutes to maintain the quality and rate of chest compressions. The switch should take place as quickly as possible (in less than 5 seconds).
CPR is intense and strenuous for the rescuer, but it can be lifesaving. Rescuers can become tired fairly quickly. However, they need to keep in mind that they have a better chance of saving a life if they attempt CPR instead of doing nothing and waiting for ambulance personnel to arrive.
After ambulance personnel arrive, make sure you remain on the scene to give trained rescuers a report of what happened. This is an important part of the overall care provided to the sick or injured person.
Almost all communities have programs for training the public in the skills of CPR. Knowing how to perform CPR can be crucial if your help is needed in an emergency.