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CPR QUICK REFERENCE

This informational page on "How-To-Do-CPR" is provided purely as informational and does not meet the requirements for certification in any CPR program.  However, it is provided to you because we at Insight Educators believe that this information is vital for the survival of persons in cardiac arrest and should not be withheld from the general public.

The CPR protocol listed below is for single rescuer, ADULT CPR.  Our hope is that you would never have a need for it, but if you do, here is a quick way to approach the person in need of your help...

CPR IN THREE SIMPLE STEPS
(Please try to attend a CPR training course)

 
Unresponsiveness: During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, the blood pressure falls to zero and the pulse disappears. Within 10 seconds of cardiac arrest the person loses consciousness and becomes unresponsive. If you shake or shout at the victim, there will be no response. Sometimes a person in cardiac arrest may make grunting, gasping or snoring type breathing sounds for a couple of minutes. Do not be confused by this abnormal type of breathing. If a person is unresponsive (doesn't respond to shouts or shakes) and not breathing (or is breathing abnormally) then call 911 and begin CPR.

1. CALL

Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If there is no response, Call 911 and return to the victim. In most locations the emergency dispatcher can assist you with CPR instructions.

   
Remember a person in cardiac arrest may have abnormal breathing for a couple of minutes. This abnormal breathing is called "agonal respiration" and is the result of the brain's breathing center sending out signals even though circulation has ceased. The key point is that the abnormal breathing may sound like grunting, gasping or snoring. It disappears in 2-3 minutes. If you see this type of breathing DO NOT delay CPR. The person desperately needs air and only you can provide it.

2. BLOW

Tilt the head back and listen for breathing.  If not breathing normally, USING A BARRIER DEVICE, pinch nose and cover the mouth with yours and blow until you see the chest rise. Give 2 breaths.  Each breath should take 1 second.

   
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Pushing on the Chest: In general the chest should be pushed down 11/2-2 inches. Sometimes you may hear a cracking sound. Do not be alarmed. The sound is caused by cartilage or ribs cracking. Even if this occurs the damage is not serious. The risk of delaying CPR or not doing CPR is far greater than the risk of a broken rib.

3. PUMP

If the victim is still not breathing normally, coughing or moving, begin chest compressions.  Push down on the chest 1-1/2 to 2 inches 30 times right between the nipples.  Pump at the rate of 100/minute, faster than once per second.

 
  

CONTINUE WITH 2 BREATHS AND 30 PUMPS UNTIL HELP ARRIVES
NOTE: This ratio is the same for one-person & two-person CPR.  In two-person CPR the person pumping the chest stops while the other gives mouth-to-mouth breathing.

What complications can occur?

What about checking for a pulse?

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THESE INSTRUCTIONS WITH YOU?
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE CPR POCKET GUIDE

 

Complications of CPR

Vomiting is the most frequently encountered complication of CPR. If the victim starts to vomit, turn the head to the side and try to sweep out or wipe off the vomit. Continue with CPR.

The spread of infection from the victim to the rescuer is exceedingly rare. Most cardiac arrests occur in people's homes - relatives or friends will be the ones needing to do CPR. Even CPR performed on strangers has an exceedingly rare risk of infection. There is NO documentation of HIV or AIDS ever being transmitted via CPR.

Checking The Pulse

The pulse check is no longer taught or expected of laypersons.   Instead, if you see no signs of life (defined as breathing normally, coughing or moving) you should begin to pump on the chest.  Please note that the pulse check is still expected of health care providers.

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Last modified: February 15, 2011