CPR – Components for Adults & Adolescents
Scene safety
- Check the environment – making sure it’s safe for rescuers and victims
Recognition of cardiac arrest
- Check responsiveness
- No breathing or only gasping – ie., no normal breathing
- Within 10 seconds – no positive pulse
- (You can check for a pulse and breathing simultaneously in less than 10 seconds)
Activation of the emergency response system
- If you do not have a mobile phone – leave the victim and activate the emergency response system while retrieving an AED before performing CPR.
- Have someone activate the emergency response system. Perform CPR immediately and use the AED as it becomes available.
Compression- ventilation ratio without advanced airway
- 1 or 2 rescuers – 30:2
Compression- ventilation ratio with advanced airway
- Chest compressions – 100-120/min
- Give 1 breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min)
Compression rate
- 100-120/min
Compression depth
- At least 2 inches (5 cm)
Hand placement
- 2 hands-on the breastbone (sternum) on the lower half
Chest recoil
- Make sure not to lean on the chest of the victim – Allow a full recoil after each chest compression
Minimizing interruptions
- Compression interruptions – limit to less than 10 seconds
Rescuers should never
- Compress slower than 100/min or faster than 120/min
- Compress in-depth less than 2 inches (5 cm) or more than 2.4 (6 cm)
- Lean on victim’s chest during compressions
- Allow interruption during compressions more than 10 seconds
- Provide excessive ventilation during breathing task, ie., excessive breathing with force or too many breaths
When to stop CPR
• When you’re too exhausted to continue
• Broken ribs, lung collapses, etc.
• If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is accessible
• If Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrives