How to Perfrom CPR
At any time, an emergency can arise that will require the use of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, better known as CPR. Get yourself trained through a local Red Cross or paramedic training program, and refer to these steps as a refresher. Remember the 3 C's: check, call, care; and the ABC: airway, breathing, circulation.
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Instructions
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Check the situation. Assess the danger level surrounding the injured party. Is there a fire? Are there downed power lines? Is there anything sharp that could harm you? Make sure you can safely reach the patient and provide care without unduly risking your own safety or further harming the patient.
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Check the patient. Is he conscious or unconscious? If he appears unconscious, check for signs of breathing. Yell, "Are you okay?" as you tap him on the shoulder or gently shake him. If there is no response, emergency responders need to be called and CPR should commence.
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Designate someone to call for help. Look the person square in the eye, point to him, and emphatically say, "YOU go call 911." If you are alone, you will have to call yourself, preferably over a speakerphone, and after about five rounds of CPR.
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Use a mouth barrier and gloves if they are available to protect both yourself and the patient.
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Open the airway. Use one hand on his forehead and two fingers under his chin to gently tip the head back. Use two fingers to sweep inside the mouth, checking for any objects that may be obstructing the airway. Look, listen, and feel for breathing. If breaths need to be administered, plug the nose with two fingers and a thumb and blow into the person's mouth until the chest rises. Repeat the rescue breath.
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Check for a pulse. Place two fingers on the carotid (neck) artery and feel for a pulse. If you get one, continue rescue breaths until relieved by emergency responders or until the patient begins breathing on his own. If no pulse, continue with the next step.
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Start compressions. Find the area of the chest that is over the sternum (bone where the two sides of the ribcage meet) and just below the nipples. Place the heel of your dominant hand on this spot. Place your other hand on top of the dominant hand and interlock your fingers. Lock your elbows, place your shoulders directly above your hands, and firmly and rapidly push straight down. Count out loud and you repeat this for a total of 30 compressions. If it is done properly, the bones may break, especially in older people.
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Give one rescue breath. If the chest does not rise because the breath did not go in, sweep the mouth again. Give a second breath, then continue with 30 more compressions. For adults, the cycle of 2 breaths followed by 30 compressions should be maintained at a rate of 2 compressions a second.
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Continue the cycle until the person revives, or until emergency medical help arrives. If you become exhausted, try to get relieved by someone else trained in CPR.
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Tips & Warnings
These are instructions for CPR on an adult or a child over the age of 8. For a child between the ages of 1 and 8, just one hand is used when administering compressions and breaths are shallower. For an infant under the age of 1, breaths are administered by making a seal around both the nose and the mouth. Blood flow is the most important part of keeping the patient alive. Compressions must be continuous, even if breaths are not given.
Do not worry about being sued if you make a mistake while helping the injured person. If you are helping out of a simple act of kindness, you will be protected under state Good Samaritan laws.
