- Assess the situation:
- Check safety: Make sure the environment is safe for you and the victim.
- Check the response: Gently touch and shake the person and ask if they are okay. If he or she doesn’t respond, call emergency services (or ask someone to do so). 2. Check breathing:
- Check breathing: Lean over the person and listen for normal breathing. If he or she is not breathing or only has abnormal respirations (gasping), start CPR.
- Chest compressions:
- Position: Place the person on a firm, flat surface.
- Hands: Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest (at the bottom of the sternum) and the other hand on top, interlacing the fingers.
- Compressions: Keep your arms straight and use your body weight to compress your chest at least 5 cm (2 inches) deep. Perform compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute.
- Ventilations (if you are trained):
- After 30 compressions, open the airway by tilting your head back and lifting your chin.
- Rescue breaths: Cover the person’s mouth with yours, sealing well, and give two rescue breaths (each about 1 second, making sure the chest rises). Alternate between 30 compressions and 2 ventilations
- Continue CPR:
- Continue the cycle of 30 compressions and 2 ventilations until professional help arrives, the defibrillator is available, or the person shows signs of life (such as moving or breathing normally).
- Use of automatic external defibrillator (AED):
- If an AED is available, turn it on and follow the voice instructions. Place the patches on the person’s chest as directed and make sure no one touches the person while the heart rhythm is being analyzed.
Final considerations:
- If you are not comfortable performing ventilations, you can choose to perform compressions only (compression-only CPR), which is also very effective.
- Remember that CPR must be performed as quickly as possible, since every minute counts in an emergency.
