CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

Definition: A lifesaving technique that uses chest compressions, and sometimes rescue breaths, to keep oxygen-rich blood moving to the brain and vital organs when a person's heart has stopped beating effectively. CPR does not usually restart the heart on its own, but it buys critical time until an AED or paramedics arrive.

Parent Tip: If you find someone unresponsive, do not stop to check for a pulse. Look for signs of life: are they breathing normally, moving, or responding when you tap them and shout their name? If they are not breathing or only gasping, call 911 (or have someone call) and start CPR right away. Current AHA guidelines tell lay rescuers to skip the pulse check because too many people lose precious time trying to find one. When in doubt, push.

For Infants Under 1 Year

• Place the baby on a firm, flat surface, this can be things like a dresser, changing table, counter top, etc. 
• Use two thumbs encircling the chest (with two rescuers) or the palm of one hand (alone), if your fingers cannot encircle the chest on the breastbone just below the nipple line
• Push down about 1.5 inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute
• Give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths covering both the nose and mouth, and repeat
• If you are alone and cannot access a phone quickly, do 2 minutes of CPR before stopping to call 911

For Children 1 Year to Puberty

• Place the heel of one or two hands on the lower breastbone (use two hands for larger children)
• Push down about 2 inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute
• Give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths, and repeat
• If you are alone, and cannot access a phone quickly, do 2 minutes of CPR before stopping to call 911

For Adults and Older Children

• Place the heel of one hand on the lower breastbone with the other hand on top, fingers interlaced
• Push down at least 2 inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute
• Give 30 compressions, then 2 rescue breaths, and repeat
• If you are not trained in rescue breathing or not comfortable doing it, hands only CPR (continuous compressions with no breaths) is also effective for adults but only if it was sudden Cardiac Arrest and not caused by a secondary cause like : Drowning, Drug Overdose, Choking or Gas poisoning. 
• Call 911 first, then start CPR

Key Points for All Ages

• Let the chest fully rise back up between each compression. Full recoil is critical.
• Push to the beat of the song "Stayin' Alive" or any other song you like in that range (about 100 to 120 beats per minute)
• Switch rescuers every 2 minutes if possible to prevent fatigue
• Use an AED as soon as one is available, even while CPR is in progress
• Do not stop CPR until paramedics arrive, the person starts breathing normally, or you are physically unable to continue

Why It Matters: Early bystander CPR doubles or triples the chance of survival from cardiac arrest. Survival rates drop by about 10 percent for every minute that CPR is delayed, which means the person doing CPR before paramedics arrive often makes the difference between life and death. CPR is also a skill that decays quickly without practice, which is why I recommend a hands on refresher class every two years. Reading about CPR helps. Practicing it on a manikin is what actually carries you through the real moment.

Related Terms: AED, Airway, Back Blows, Chest Thrusts, Choking, Defibrillator, Pulse Check, Recovery Position, Rescue Breathing, Unconsciousness

Written and reviewed by Jeremy Manke, Firefighter / Paramedic (22 years of emergency service)

← Back to Glossary