Correct CPR Procedures

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently revised its CPR procedures to highlight the importance of performing chest compressions. The AHA revised the old acronym ABC in 2010 to remember the order of CPR actions. The standard now is CAB, which stands for Circulation, Airway, Breathing. The AHA also advises that those with no CPR training or whose training is rusty to perform chest compressions only, at the rate of 100 per minute, until medical personnel arrive. Only those with recent CPR training in an accredited CPR course should attempt the complete CAB procedures.

Instructions

• 1

  Check if the person is conscious. If he appears not to be, gently tap or shake his shoulder and ask, "Are you OK?" If the person is non-responsive, have someone call 911 while you begin CPR. If you are alone and your phone is handy, call 911 unless it appears the person is unresponsive because of suffocation. In this case only, perform CPR for one minute before calling 911. If he is still unresponsive, shock the person once with an automated external defibrillator (AED) if one is available and you are trained to use it, following the machine's specific instructions.

• 2

  Put the person on his back on a firm surface if he is not already on such a surface. Kneel next to his neck and shoulders. Place the heel of one hand between the person's nipples. Place your other hand on top of your hand and compress at least two inches straight down, using your entire upper body weight. Keep your elbows straight and make sure your shoulders are directly above your hands.

• 3

  Check the airway if you are trained in CPR and have completed 30 chest compressions. Place your hand on the person's forehead and tilt his head back. With your other hand gently lift the chin forward. Check for the motions and sounds of normal breathing for no more than five or 10 seconds. Note that gasping is not normal breathing. If the person is not breathing normally, and you are trained in CPR, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing. If you believe the person has suffered a heart attack continue chest compressions in lieu of mouth-to-mouth.

• 4

  Pinch the individual's nose shut and cover his mouth with yours, creating a seal. The person's airway must be open before you do this. Open the airway by the head-tilt chin-lift action undertaken in Step 3. Give one breath lasting one second. Watch to see if the chest rises. If it does not, administer another breath. Resume chest compressions. One cycle consists of two rescue breaths and 30 compressions.

• 5

  Continue the cycles of breaths and chest compressions. If after five cycles the person has still not begun moving, administer a shock with an AED as the machine's instructions outline if the machine is available and you are trained to use it. If it is not available, continue the breaths and compressions cycle until the person begins moving or until medical personnel arrive and take over.