Current Instructions for CPR

In an emergency situation, CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can be a lifesaving procedure. The use of CPR can help keep oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs and potentially keep a person alive for eight to 10 minutes. While it is recommended that you be properly trained and certified before administering CPR, it is still important that you be knowledgeable of CPR in case of an emergency. If you are untrained, the American Heart Association advises you to be careful when administering CPR and to follow three simple steps.

Instructions

• 1

  Before you begin performing CPR, check with the person to see if he is conscious. Ask or gently shake the victim to see if he is responsive. If you are not alone, send an individual to call for 911. If you are alone, stay by the victim and call 911, if possible.

• 2

  The first thing you need to do is stabilize the person on his back on a flat surface. Position yourself next to the person around his shoulder area. Place one hand on his forehead and the other hand under his chin. Gently tilt the head back and lift the chin up, opening the mouth.

• 3

  Check for signs of breathing by placing your ear above the mouth and listening for breath. Check for signs of breathing by looking for rising motions in the chest. This should be normal breathing sounds and not gasping or wheezing. If you are completely untrained in CPR, do not attempt to conduct mouth-to-mouth and go directly to the chest compressions step. If you are trained, you may begin mouth-to-mouth.

• 4

  Mouth-to-mouth is essentially when you breathe for the individual while he is unable to. Keeping the airway open, gently pinch the person's nostrils and place your mouth onto his. Your mouth should form a tight seal with his mouth to avoid air escaping. Give one rescue breath lasting one second and look for the chest to rise. If the chest rises, give a second rescue breath. If the chest fails to rise, repeat the head and chin tilt and then give a second rescue breath.

• 5

  After administering two rescue breaths, move on to chest compressions. Place the heel of one hand in the center of his chest between his nipples. Place your other hand on top and keep your elbows straight with your shoulders centered. Push with medium to hard pressure at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. After you have given 30 compressions, give the person another two rescue breaths, completing one cycle of CPR.