Step-by-step Guide to CPR

The CPR Steps to Success

The American Heart Association (AHA) has published horrifying statistics that show your chance of survival are poor from out of hospital cardiac arrest. People wrongly assume that the emergency services will arrive on time but they can’t always be at the scene within five minutes and that is about all the time you have to prevent brain damage and death.

Do you have to give mouth to mouth when performing CPR?

You don’t need to worry about giving mouth to mouth. That is not necessary although it is one of the recommended CPR steps for trained rescuers. Recent research has shown that correctly performing chest compressions is sufficient in the first few minutes following cardiac arrest. Rescue breaths may not be needed, although EMS will start them when they arrive.

Is basic CPR sufficient?

With more people dying in the USA every three days from cardiac arrest than died in the terrorist attacks 9-11, even learning the basic CPR steps is better than knowing nothing and having to stand by and watch someone you know and love die. If you achieve your CPR certification you may want to take an extra course in learning how to use an automated external defibrillator. When doing cardiac resuscitation, CPR works better when combined with the use of an AED to shock the heart and hopefully get it beating again.

So what are the CPR steps?

CPR is as simple as two steps:

Step 1. Call 911 to alert the emergency services. Try to get someone else to make this call while you asses the casualty. You need to check whether they are responsive or not and whether they are breathing. If they are still breathing you don’t need to start CPR but if they are not you need to take action quickly. The dispatcher can assist you by giving your first aid directions over the phone so don’t worry if you can’t remember any of the CPR steps or even how to start due to shock or nerves.

Step 2. Push hard and fast in the center of the victim’s chest until further medical help arrives. If trained, you can deliver two quick rescue breaths after each set of thirty chest compressions. Don’t stop until medical help arrives.