Facts on Giving CPR

1. Bringing Back the Dead

"You're a lifesaver" will no longer be just a figure of speech to you. You are, quite literally pulling someone from the grip of the Grim Reaper when you are performing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Your patient is not breathing, nor does he have a pulse. It is your job to become his breath and his heartbeat. In order to be a successful "lifesaver," you should have the minimum level of understanding of how to perform CPR.

2. Know Your ABC's

Airway, Breathing and Circulation are the ABC's of CPR. The minimum amount of knowledge you must have in order to perform CPR is to know whether or not the person needs CPR in the first place. A sleeping "victim" will not be too appreciative if you start beating on his chest and upon his waking up, you may end up needing the CPR. First check the airway for a blockage, then check for breathing. If the victim is breathing, then he has a pulse. If he is not breathing, he may or may not have a pulse, so check for one at the carotid artery (neck). He may have a pulse, but if he's not breathing, he will soon not have a pulse either.

3. Take a Deep Breath

If your patient is not breathing, regardless of whether there is a pulse or not, you must give her air. Open her airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method (if head, neck or spinal injuries are not suspect). Place two fingers under the front jaw bone and your other hand on the forehead. Tilt the head back so the mouth opens and you have an open airway. Take a deep breath and blow two rescue breaths into the victim. Watch for the chest to rise and fall to make sure that your breath is going to the right place. You will want to make sure that you are pinching shut the nose of the victim to avoid just blowing air in and out through the head. For infants and small toddlers, you will just want to puff a cheek-full of air into the little one's mouth. A full breath will pop those little lungs like a balloon and cause more damage.

4. Just Push It

After your two initial rescue breaths, start chest compressions immediately if you can't find a pulse. If there was a pulse, continue breathing, otherwise, your chest compressions will certainly get the victim's attention. Prior to actually compressing the chest, check for correct hand placement. You want to make sure that the heel of your palm is not right over the xyphoid process. This small bone can be easily broken and puncture the chest. Your hands should be mid-nipple line and with elbows locked out. Start pumping that chest. You might hear and feel cartilage cracking, but just keep going for 15 compressions, then give more breaths.

5. Ready, Set, Puke

Most people have a gag reflex that makes them puke when they see or smell someone else's vomit. Imagine tasting someone else's vomit. Nine times out of ten, the person you just resuscitated will vomit upon regaining consciousness. Just remember this crucial fact because you won't see it on your favorite TV show.