Learn how to perform CPR on an adult

What is CPR?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to give a person the best chance of survival following a cardiac arrest.

What to do:

1 If you find someone collapsed, you should first perform a primary survey.  If you have established from this that they are unresponsive and not breathing, you should ask a helper to call 999 or 112 for emergency help while you start CPR. Ask a helper to find and bring a defibrillator, if available.

Ask your helper to put the phone on speaker and hold it out towards you, use the hands-free speaker on a phone so you can start CPR while speaking to ambulance control.

If you are on your own and an AED is not nearby, don’t leave the casualty, start CPR. The ambulance will bring one.

Start CPR. 

C - Circulation.

Kneel by the casualty and put the heel of your hand on the middle of their chest. Put your other hand on top of the first. Interlock your fingers making sure they don't touch the ribs.

Keep your arms straight and lean over the casualty. Press down hard, to a depth of about 5-6cm before releasing the pressure, allowing the chest to come back up.

Avoid applying pressure over the ribs, the bottom end of the breastbone or the upper abdomen.

The beat of the song "Staying Alive" can help you keep the right speed

Do not give rescue breaths.

Do 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute.

Give rescue breaths:

After the compressions, open the airway again and give 2 rescue breaths:

Pinch the soft part of the nose closed.  Allow the mouth to open, but maintain the chin lift.

Take a normal breath and seal your lips around the casualty’s mouth.

Blow steadily into the mouth, whilst watching for the chest to rise, taking about one second, as in normal breathing (rescue breath).

Keeping the airway open, take your mouthy away from the casualty and watch for the chest to fall as air comes out.

Take another breath and blow in the casualty’s mouth once more to achieve a total of 2 breaths.  Do not interrupt compressions by more than 10 seconds to give 2 breaths.

Return your hands without delay to the centre of the chest and give another 30 chest compressions.

Continue with the chest compressions and rescue breaths at a ratio of 30/2.

If more than one rescuer?

3. Continue to perform CPR until:  

*Emergency help arrives and takes over .

*The person starts showing signs of life and starts to breathe normally.

*You are too exhausted to continue (if there is a helper, you can change over every one-to-two minutes, with minimal interruptions to chest compressions).

*A defibrillator is ready to be used.

4. If the helper returns with a defibrillator, ask them to switch it on and follow the voice prompts while you continue with CPR.