How to do CPR
Doing CPR is not too difficult. The majority of people that attend a Red Cross CPR class easily complete the program and obtain a certificate. Each certificate is valid for 3 years and is nationally accredited. Re-certification classes are also available for most programs.
This page will outline the steps required for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The CPR techniques posted here are for learning purposes only. In order to learn CPR take a hands-on course through any credible Red Cross provider.
The following is the steps you should take if you find someone lying unconscious on the floor.
Watch this cool video before reading the steps
Check the environment. You don’t want to hurt yourself so you want to check for any dangers. Look for electrical wires, check the floor and be wary of any gassy smells. If you see any serious dangers leave the room and contact EMS immediately. If you do not see any dangers proceed to the next step.
Ask the person if he or she is okay. Can they hear you? If they respond and everything is okay then great! If they do not respond gently tap on the shoulder to make sure they aren’t deaf. Continue to the next step if you do not get a response.
Open the victim’s airway by gently tilting the head back with your palm on the forehead and two fingers under the chin. You need to be on your knees next to the patients head in order to do this.
Place your ear next to the victim’s mouth (about two or three inches away) and listen for breathing. At the same time watch the victim’s chest / stomach to see if it is rising or falling. This is called the “look-listen and feel” approach. In this step you are checking for breathing. You do not want to check for breathing for any more than 10 seconds.
With this information send someone to contact EMS. Be authoritative when telling someone to contact EMS and tell them to come back once they have done it. Tell them the approximate age of the victim and whether or not they are breathing. Tell your bystander to also retrieve an automated external defibrillator.
If the victim is breathing continue to monitor the vitals until EMS arrives. If the victim is not breathing expose the chest and place two hands, one over top of the other, and begin chest compressions. You want to do these compressions over the center of the chest and compress the chest approximately 1/3 the depth to the floor. The rhythm should be at least 100 compressions per minute. Stop when you reach 30 compressions.
If you have a barrier device use it for this next step. Plug the victims nose and ventilate through the mouth with two full breaths. Get a good seal and watch the chest rise. Once you see the chest rise that is enough air.
Continue with chest 30 chest compressions and 2 ventilations until EMS arrives, the victim wakes up, an AED is brought to you, the scene becomes unsafe or you are too tired to continue.
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