CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a technique you can do to save the life of someone who has stooped breathing or has had a cardiac event. In order to do this technique in a manner that's safe for you and the victim, it's important to take a class in person from a trained professional. The American Heart Association and the Red Cross provide classes all over the world. However, there are some general steps to follow when providing CPR.
Make Sure the Area is Safe
Before attempting to give CPR, your first step is to evaluate the scene to make sure it's safe for you to provide help. If you're responding to an accident, make sure there are no fires, downed wires, chemicals or other situations that could cause harm to you. Wear gloves and have a CPR mouth barrier available to avoid exposure to transmitted diseases.
Check for Responsiveness
The University of Washington says you should check the victim for responsiveness. If you're checking an adult or child, gently shake the victim's shoulder and ask if she's OK. If you're checking an infant, flick or tap the bottom of the foot. If you don't get a response, call 911, or if there are other bystanders, ask someone else to call. If you're treating an adult or child, you can call right away. If you are treating an infant, you should give a couple of rounds of breaths before calling, or carry the infant to the phone as you are giving breaths.
Check for a Pulse and Breathing
Gently tilt back the victim's head. Place your ear near her mouth and look at the chest. You should hear or feel breathing and/or see the chest rise and fall. If this happens, don't give any breaths. In addition, feel for a pulse in either the wrist or neck. If you feel a pulse, do not start CPR. If no pulse is detected and you cannot detect any breathing, perform breaths and compressions. At this point if there is a AED or defibrillator on site, have someone get it for you.
Give Breaths
According to the Mayo Clinic, if no breath or pulse is detected within 5 to 10 seconds, tip back the victim's head, close off the victim's nose and give two full breaths to an adult or child, or a cheekful's breath to an infant. You should see the chest rise. Your CPR instructor will help you learn how to give proper breaths. It's also important to understand that breathing should be somewhat normal. A victim who gasps, snorts, snores or is otherwise not breathing normally may still need assistance.
Start Compressions
Begin compressions using the heel of your hand for adults and children, and just your fingers for infants. There are specific requirements as far as placement of your heel and fingers, as well as how hard to compress. Learning and practicing with a trained CPR instructor is necessary to really learn how to safely and effectively give compressions. In addition, there are rules to follow if the victim is pregnant. In general, you should do cycles of 15 compressions and then give two breaths. If an AED is available, open the unit and follow the instructions it gives you.
Continue Until Help Arrives
Once you have started CPR, try to continue until the victim begins to breathe on her own, help arrives or you are too exhausted to continue. If you're unsure of what to do, the operator who answered your 911 call can stay on the phone with you to help talk you through the process.
