For example, if the person has collapsed due to exposure to smoke and fire or toxic fumes, steer clear of the area. If the person is in a dangerous situation and you’re able to move them safely, do so before trying to give them CPR. For example, if they’ve collapsed in the middle of the street, wait for a moment when there’s no oncoming traffic and then move them out of the road.
Shake the victim’s shoulders and loudly ask, “Are you okay?” If you receive no response, check for signs of breathing, like the person’s chest rising and falling. Check for a pulse by placing your fingers on their carotid artery, next to the windpipe just below the jaw. Hands-only CPR is ideal for those without formal CPR training or for people unsure in their CPR abilities. It does not involve the rescue breathing measures associated with conventional CPR, but instead focuses on chest compressions. [5] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
If 2 or more people are available, 1 person should dial for help while the other begins CPR. [7] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If a person is unresponsive because of suffocation (from drowning, for example), then it’s recommended to immediately begin CPR for 1 minute and then call your local emergency number. [8] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source If the victim is a child between the ages of 1 to 8 years, perform 5 cycles of chest compressions and rescue breathing before calling emergency services if you are the only person available. This should take roughly 2 minutes. Calling emergency services will bring paramedics to the location. Typically, the dispatcher will also be able to instruct you on how to perform CPR.
Once on the person is on their back, kneel next to their neck and shoulders so you have better access to their chest and mouth. Keep in mind that you should not move the person if you suspect they may have suffered a significant head, neck, or spinal injury. In this case, moving them is life-threatening and should be avoided, unless emergency help won’t be available for a long time (a few hours or more).
If you’re afraid the person has a neck injury, try not to move their head. Use both hands to carefully move their jaw forward without moving the rest of their head or neck. Once you’ve opened the airway, listen carefully for sounds of breathing and check to see if their chest is rising and falling. If you can’t find any signs of breathing after about 10 seconds, or if the person is only gasping occasionally instead of breathing regularly, start CPR.
If you’re not sure what 100 compressions a minute really means, try doing your compressions to the beat of the Bee Gee’s song “Stayin’ Alive”[12] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source , or Queen’s song ‘“Another One Bites the Dust”. Use your upper body weight and strength, not just your arm strength, to push straight down on the chest. Your chest compressions should cause the person’s chest to depress at least 2 inches (5. 1 cm). Push hard and understand that it is likely you will break the person’s ribs. This is extremely common, and you shouldn’t stop compressions even if you think this has happened. Chest compressions are hard work and you may have to switch off with other bystanders before emergency personnel arrive. Continue doing this action as until the person becomes responsive or until the emergency medical team arrive and take over.
If performing CPR on a small child between the ages of 1 and 8 years, only use 1 hand to perform chest compressions. The rate of chest compressions is the same for both adults and children (roughly 100 per minute). For children between the ages of 1 and 8 years, you will need to depress the sternum (chest bone) 1/3 to 1/2 of the depth of the child’s chest. If you have recent CPR training, perform only 30 chest compressions before moving on to the breathing assistance phase of CPR.
Take 5 to 10 seconds to check for normal breathing. Look for chest motion, listen for breathing, and see if you can feel the victim’s breath on your cheek or ear. Note that gasping is not considered to be normal breathing. If they are already breathing, no breathing assistance is needed. However, if they are still not breathing, then proceed to the mouth-to-mouth breathing part of CPR. To perform the jaw-thrust technique, sit above the person’s head. Place one hand on each side of the person’s jaw and lift the jaw so that it is jutting forward, as though the person has an underbite. [15] X Trustworthy Source New England Journal of Medicine World’s Leading Medical Journal Go to source
You should be aware that mouth-to-mouth CPR can transfer infectious viral and bacterial diseases between the victim and the rescuer. Before contacting their mouth with yours, wipe away any vomit, mucus, or excess saliva that may be present. Rescue breathing can also be mouth-to-nose breathing if the person’s mouth is seriously injured or can’t be opened.
Although there’s carbon dioxide in your breath when you exhale, there’s still enough oxygen to benefit a victim during CPR. Again, the purpose isn’t always to revive them or continue indefinitely, but to buy some time for them until paramedics arrive. Approximately 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths is considered to be 1 cycle of conventional CPR for both adults and children. If performing CPR on a child between the ages of 1 and 8 years, you can use gentler breaths to inflate their lungs.
If the baby is coughing or gagging, the airway is partially blocked. Let the baby continue to cough, as this is the best way to dislodge the blockage. If the baby is not able to cough and begins to turn bright red or blue, the airway is completely blocked. You will need to perform back blows and chest compressions to dislodge the blockage. If your baby is ill, having an allergic reaction, or suffocating because their airway is swollen, you can perform chest compressions and rescue breaths, but you will need to call local emergency services immediately.
Use your thumb and fingers to hold the jaw as you turn the baby. Lower your bottom arm onto your thigh. The baby’s head should be lower than their chest. Note that back blows should only be delivered if the baby is still conscious. If the baby falls unconscious, skip the back blows and proceed straight to the chest compressions and rescue breaths.
Continue to support the baby’s neck and head by holding their jaw between your thumb and forefingers. Giving CPR to a baby is often walking a fine line between being effective and causing injury. However, a minor musculoskeletal injury is a small price to pay for saving a life.
Don’t lift the baby’s head as you turn them, as this can force the clog back into their throat. Keep the head down. The baby should remain sandwiched in between your arms as you turn them. Remember to remain calm and talk soothingly to the baby. They can’t comprehend your words, but they can pick up on your calm and loving tone.
You could also place the baby on their back on a firm, flat surface, like a table or the floor. The fingers should be placed in between the baby’s nipples at the center of their chest.
Pump rapidly at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. Each compression should be smooth, not abrupt or shaky. Be careful not to injure the baby’s ribs during the compressions.
Give 2 gentle rescue breaths. Deliver 1 puff of air into the baby’s mouth. If the chest moves, deliver the second puff of air. If the chest does not move, attempt to clear the airway again before administering the second breath. Do not deliver deep breaths of air from your lungs. Instead, use the muscles in your cheeks to deliver gentle puffs of air.
If you suspect that the baby is choking on a foreign object, you should look into their mouth after every round of chest compressions. Each cycle should consist of 30 chest compressions followed by 2 emergency breaths.
