The American Red Cross offers a number of certifications for adult CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In recent years all certifying bodies including the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have moved towards CPR methods that encourage action and remove barriers to action during an emergency. To learn how to perform CPR, attend a Red Cross course in your community.
CPR for Everyone
In 2006 the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross presented new protocols for CPR on adults with sudden cardiac arrest. If you witness an adult collapse from a presumed sudden cardiac arrest, or if you're untrained or unwilling to perform breathing on a victim, you may opt for compression-only CPR. You or another bystander should call 911 immediately, then clasp your hands, one on top of the other, and press firmly in the center of the victim's chest at a rate of 100 compressions per minute. You want to press down approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Continue compressing the chest until more advanced care arrives.
CPR for the Lay Responder
Lay responders have attended a certification class through the American Red Cross and are trained to act in an emergency. As a lay responder, when you find a victim, check the scene for safety, then check the victim for consciousness. After determining that the victim is unconscious, send another bystander to call 911. If necessary, call 911 yourself. Place one hand on the forehead and the other on the chin, tilt back the head and open the airway. Look at the victim's chest with your ear close to the victim's nose and look, listen, and feel for breathing for up to 10 seconds. If the victim does not appear to be breathing, give two initial rescue breaths, watching the chest rise. Scan the body for severe bleeding, then begin CPR. Compress the victim's chest 30 times, then provide two breaths. Continue this cycle until more advanced care arrives.
CPR for the Professional Rescuer
Professional rescuers often hold positions as lifeguards or emergency medical technicians. This training provides more advanced care for victims of sudden, life-threatening emergencies or illnesses. If you're professional rescuer certified, after you approach the victim and check the scene for safety and the victim for consciousness, you begin care in a similar fashion to a lay responder. Open the victim's airway and look, listen and feel for breathing. If the victim isn't breathing, give two initial breaths. After giving breaths, use two fingers to check the victim's pulse on the small of his neck. Check for a pulse for up to 10 seconds. If no pulse is present, begin CPR. Provide 30 compressions and two breaths, continuing the cycle until more advanced care arrives.
