Steps to CPR for Adults

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a method of restoring a person's breathing if his or her heartbeat has stopped. The two components of CPR include chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. The American Heart Association developed a CPR program for doctors in 1960, and in 2010, the organization released new CPR guidelines, putting a priority on compressions rather than clearing the airway first. If CPR is immediately administered to a person in cardiac arrest, his chances of survival increase dramatically. So by learning CPR, you could save a life.

Preparation

• 1

  Check the scene for safety. For example, take care to redirect traffic from the area.

• 2

  Call 911 or assign someone else to do so. If a crowd gathers, put some to work helping you and ask the others to back away to give the victim as much privacy as possible.

• 3

  Kneel next to the victim and gently shake or tap him and call out to him. If he doesn't respond, carefully roll him onto his back.

Performance

• 1

  Start chest compressions by placing the heel of your hand on the center of the victim's chest and your other hand on top with fingers intertwined.

• 2

  Press down at least 2 inches at a rate of at least 100 times per minute to send blood to vital organs.

• 3

  If you are CPR-certified, you can proceed to open the airway by the head-tilt/chin-lift method. Push back on the forehead and lift the chin by putting your fingers on the bony part of the chin.

• 4

  Pinch the victim's nose to close it. Take in a normal breath, tightly cover the victim's mouth with yours and give two, one-second breaths. Look to see if the chest rises.

• 5

  Continue at a rate of 30 compressions to two breaths until help arrives or the victim starts to move.