How to Perform CPR: A Clear Step-by-Step Guide
CPR is used when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Its purpose is to keep blood moving until an AED and emergency responders can provide further care. The sequence is easier to remember when it is reduced to four priorities: recognize the emergency, call 911, start compressions and use the AED.
In a real emergency, put the phone on speaker and follow the 911 dispatcher. The steps below are an educational overview and do not replace CPR training or real-time instructions.
The first minute: what to do
- Check the scene. Look for traffic, electricity, fire, water, violence or another immediate danger.
- Check responsiveness and breathing. Tap the shoulder, speak loudly and look for normal breathing. Gasping is not normal breathing.
- Call 911. If another person is present, point to them and assign the call. Put the phone on speaker.
- Send for an AED. Give the task to a specific person when possible.
- Begin chest compressions. Continue until the AED is ready, trained responders take over, the scene becomes unsafe or the person shows clear signs of life.
The National Library of Medicine’s CPR overview reinforces rapid recognition, calling 911, chest compressions and early AED use.
Adult chest compressions
Place the person on their back on a firm surface when it is safe to do so. Kneel beside the chest. Put the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, place the other hand on top and keep the fingers away from the ribs. Position your shoulders over your hands and keep your elbows straight.
- Press straight down about two inches for an average adult.
- Use a steady rate of about 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
- Allow the chest to return fully after each compression.
- Keep interruptions as brief as possible.
- Switch compressors about every two minutes when another capable rescuer is available.
If you are not trained to give breaths, hands-only CPR is an option for a teen or adult who suddenly collapses. If you are trained and willing to give breaths, use the sequence taught in your course and follow the dispatcher.
How the AED fits into CPR
Turn on the AED as soon as it arrives. Expose the chest, attach the pads as shown on the device and follow every spoken or visual prompt. Continue compressions while the AED is being prepared whenever the device permits.
- Make sure nobody is touching the person during rhythm analysis.
- If a shock is advised, say “Clear,” look from head to feet and deliver it as directed.
- Resume compressions immediately when prompted.
- Leave the pads attached and continue following the device.
The FDA’s guide to public AEDs explains that the device analyzes the rhythm and instructs the user whether a shock is needed.
CPR for children and infants is not simply smaller adult CPR
Children and infants have different hand placement, compression depth and breathing needs. Use age-appropriate training and dispatcher instructions. The general priorities remain recognition, emergency activation, compressions and AED use, but the technique changes with body size and likely cause of arrest.
For a side-by-side overview, read CPR techniques for different age groups. Parents, childcare workers and babysitters should practice with age-appropriate training equipment rather than trying to learn physical technique from text alone.
When two or more rescuers are present
A team should divide tasks without delaying compressions:
- Rescuer 1: begins chest compressions.
- Rescuer 2: calls 911, retrieves the AED and prepares to switch.
- Additional helper: meets responders, unlocks doors, controls the scene or relays information.
Use names or clear identifiers when assigning a task. “Jordan, call 911” is stronger than “Someone call.” Confirm the assignment and announce when it is complete.
Five errors that reduce CPR effectiveness
Waiting for certainty
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 911 and act. Do not spend several minutes searching for a pulse or trying to determine the cause.
Pausing too often
Plan tasks around ongoing compressions. Prepare the AED pads, the next compressor and the working space without adding unnecessary pauses.
Leaning on the chest
Release pressure after each compression so the chest can return fully.
Compressing from the arms
Keep the shoulders over the hands and use body weight. Bent elbows increase fatigue.
Ignoring fatigue
Quality can decline before a rescuer feels completely exhausted. Rotate about every two minutes or sooner if technique is slipping. Review high-quality CPR principles for a deeper practice checklist.
When CPR stops
Continue until emergency responders take over, the person begins breathing normally or shows clear signs of life, the scene becomes unsafe, an AED or dispatcher directs a necessary pause, or the rescuer is physically unable to continue. Do not stop simply because the person does not respond quickly.
A practical training drill
Use a manikin and AED trainer. Start from outside the room so the drill includes recognition, the phone call and finding the device. Practice one-rescuer and two-rescuer versions. Track how long it takes to begin compressions, whether tasks are assigned clearly and whether the compressor is ready to switch at the next analysis.
Change the setting: a narrow hallway, a gym floor or a workplace office. CPR knowledge becomes more useful when the learner has practiced moving around real obstacles.
What “high-quality” feels like in practice
Reading a rate and depth is not the same as producing consistent compressions. A feedback manikin can show whether a learner slows down, compresses too shallowly or leans on the chest as fatigue develops. Practice long enough to identify the point where technique starts to slip, then rehearse a clear switch with a second rescuer.
The outgoing compressor should count down to the switch. The incoming compressor positions hands and begins with the smallest possible pause. The AED analysis cycle is often a convenient time to plan the next rotation, but rescuers should keep following the device and dispatcher rather than inventing a separate schedule during the emergency.
CPR in a crowded or awkward space
Move furniture only when it can be done without delaying care or creating a hazard. Ask bystanders to step back, secure pets and open a path for responders. If the person is on a bed or couch, call 911 and follow the dispatcher about moving them; compressions need a firm surface, but an unsafe or complicated move can waste time.
In a workplace, make sure the AED route does not require a locked door or a key nobody can find. At home, display the address where a visitor or babysitter can read it during the call.
After responders take over
Give a brief handoff: when the person was last seen responsive, when CPR began, when the AED arrived, whether the device advised a shock and any known event that happened just before collapse. Do not crowd the treatment area once responders have the information.
A real resuscitation attempt can affect rescuers emotionally and physically. Follow the organization’s incident process, replace used supplies and seek appropriate support. A review should focus on what helped and what needs practice, not blame a bystander for an outcome they could not control.
Refreshing the skill
Skills fade when they are only read about. Use regular short practice sessions with a manikin and AED trainer. Rotate roles, change the location and include the phone call. Recheck course requirements when an employer or licensing body sets a specific renewal schedule.
Questions about performing CPR
What if I am afraid of hurting the person?
Cardiac arrest is immediately life-threatening. Follow 911 instructions and begin CPR when the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
Should I move the person to a bed?
Do not delay CPR to move the person to a softer surface. Begin where they are unless the location is unsafe or the dispatcher directs otherwise.
Can the AED shock someone who does not need it?
The AED analyzes the rhythm and advises a shock only when its programming identifies an appropriate rhythm. Follow the device prompts and keep everyone clear during analysis.
To study adult, child and infant CPR along with AED use, explore MyCPR NOW CPR Certification.
