Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving emergency technique that combines rescue breathing and chest compressions to assist a person thought to be in cardiac arrest. In cardiac arrest, the heart stops, and blood stops circulating through the body. It is often caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), a state in which the heart palpitates without a regular rhythm. In either case, CPR forces blood through the heart and the brain as a means of extending the person's life until paramedics arrive.
CPR on Adults
If you encounter an adult who may have suffered a , call the emergency response system (911) and look for movement or breathing. Tap and shake the person's shoulder to try to get a response.
If the person is unconscious, has no pulse and is not moving or breathing, then CPR is necessary. Lay the person flat on a hard, even surface and kneel next to them.
For adults, place both hands at the center of the breastbone and use the weight of your body to compress their chest. Perform cycles of 30 compressions--compressing approximately 1 to 2 inches, letting the chest return to its neutral position between compressions--and two .
To give rescue breaths, you must first open their airway. Place your palm on the person's forehead and tilt their head back. Then left their chin slightly. Each rescue breath should last about one second and make the person's chest rise slightly.
You should aim for an average rate of about 100 compressions per minute, described by the American Heart Association as "pushing hard, pushing fast." Counting out loud is helpful for keeping track of your count and maintaining rhythm.
CPR on Infants and Children
CPR for children and infants is similar to CPR for adults, only modified for their smaller bodies and increased rate of regular respiration. For children, you can use the same hand placement for compressions as adults, or you can use one hand on the chest with the other hand resting on the forehead. For infants, use 2 or 3 fingers in the middle of the chest. Compress no deeper than 1 to 1½ inches, 30 times for every two rescue breaths.
Whether you are performing CPR on an adult or a child, you must continue CPR until another trained rescuer takes over for you, an AED (automated external defibrillator) is available to use, you see obvious signs of life or you are too exhausted or it is too dangerous to continue.
Attempting CPR
Even if you feel unsure about your CPR technique, most medical experts agree that it is better for a victim to receive untrained CPR attempts than none at all. Most states have "Good Samaritan" laws in place that protect you from court proceedings if you attempt CPR in an emergency situation, in good faith.
You can receive further training and certification in CPR from your local chapter of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
Tags: cardiac arrest, rescue breaths, American Heart, American Heart Association, Heart Association