Executive Summary
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a technique used when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. This website is designed to be an easy how-to guide to learn when and how CPR should be administered. The site will walk through checking someone’s heartbeat, breathing, when to call 911, and the steps to administer CPR. While similar, the techniques for CPR on adults, children, and infants are slightly different and this site will touch on all of them. There is no minimum age requirement to perform CPR successfully as the ability to perform CPR relies mostly on body strength. In times of crisis, it can be difficult to stay calm and on task for people of any age, so this site aims to offer easy to recall techniques and confidence-building CPR tips for people of all ages. The easiest way to remember how to do CPR is the acronym C.A.B. for Compressions, Airway, and Breathing.
CPR should be started when a person is:
- unconscious
- not breathing normally
- not breathing at all
CPR Quick Reference
| Compression | Adult | Child | Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technique | two hands | one or two hands | two fingers |
| Placement | center of chest between nipples | center of chest between nipples | center of chest slightly below nipples |
| Depth | at least two inches | two inches | about 1.5 inches |
| Speed | 100-120 per minute | 100-120 per minute | 100-120 per minute |
Before You Begin CPR
- Check the scene for safety
- Check for responsiveness and breathing
- If unresponsive, gasping, or not breathing, call 911 and yell for help
- Lay the person face up on a firm, flat surface
Helpful Tips
Stay Calm: If you are untrained and afraid to do CPR, remember it is always better to try than to do nothing, doing something could save someone's life.
Hand Position: Place the heel of one hand on the breastbone in the center of the chest. Place your other hand directly on top and interlace your fingers.
Body Position: Position your shoulders directly over your hands and lock your elbows to keep your arms straight.
Speed: Aim for 100-120 compressions per minute. You can sing the song "Stayin Alive" by the Bee Gees to keep up the proper tempo.
Strength: Press firmly, compress at least two inches down and allow the chest to fully rise before pressing again, keeping your hands flush with the chest.