Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique that can be used on anyone who's stopped breathing or lost consciousness. You might think you're unlikely to ever encounter someone in distress, but learning CPR could save the life of someone you love or even your own life one day. Here are the key steps to learn how to administer CPR:
Check the scene
- If you're in a public place, try to find out if anyone else has called 911 already. If not, call it yourself and tell them what's going on--"I'm with an unconscious person who isn't breathing." Tell them where you are and any other relevant information (Age? Gender? Medical history?).
- Check the person's breathing: Look at their chest moving up and down while they breathe. Put your ear close to their nose and mouth; listen for any sounds of breathing coming from them (a gasp or wheeze). Feel their neck for signs that blood is flowing through it by feeling for pulse points at different parts of their neck--the carotid artery runs along either side of your Adam's apple; use two fingers pressed firmly against each side of this artery (not too hard!) until you feel one strong beat every second or two--don't worry about feeling too many beats at once because these are just normal fluctuations in blood pressure during CPR; if there aren't any pulses anywhere along this artery then stop doing compressions immediately!
Know the difference between adult and child CPR
The first step to understanding CPR is knowing the difference between adult and child CPR. Child CPR is a modified version of adult CPR, which means it's easier for laypeople to learn and perform. The commands are the same for both children and adults; however, there are some differences in technique:
Calling Emergency Services
The first thing you should do is call 911. Don't waste time with the phone call, just do it. The operator will tell you what to do next and how to handle the situation until help arrives.
- Don't let the operator talk you out of doing CPR. You may be nervous or unsure about whether or not this is the right thing for you to do, but don't let fear stop you from helping someone in need! In fact, studies show that people who take action during an emergency are less likely to become injured than those who don't act at all.
- If there are other witnesses around who can assist with chest compressions (see below), have them call 911 while someone else begins CPR on their friend/family member/stranger victim--but only if they feel comfortable doing so! Remember: no one needs any training before performing chest compressions; anyone can follow these steps without hurting anyone else by accident!
- Put your hands in the center of the chest, with your fingers pointing down toward their feet and palms facing up towards them (this is called "the handshake position").
- Keep your elbows straight and shoulders directly over your hands to ensure good leverage when pushing down on their chest during compressions; don't let them flop around or bend at an awkward angle! You might want to ask someone else for help holding them still if necessary--just make sure they don't lean over too far so that they fall off and hurt themselves (which happens surprisingly often).
- Use the heel of your hand to press down on the chest, keeping your wrist straight and elbows locked. Compress about 1½ inches (4 cm) for each push, which should make that area of their chest rise by about an inch (2-3 cm). Do this for about 30 compressions at a rate of 100 per minute or faster if possible, until they start breathing again or medical help arrives. Don't worry if you're worried about hurting someone--it's impossible to do so with proper technique!
Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth, then breathe into their mouth. Repeat until they start breathing again, or for no more than 5 minutes if you have no response at all.
If you're not sure whether or not someone is breathing normally, give breaths anyway--it's better to err on giving too many than not enough! You can also try feeling for a pulse in their neck or wrist (but don't delay rescue attempts while doing so).
Learning CPR is a lifesaving skill. It's not important to be able to do it perfectly, but even the most basic knowledge can mean the difference between life and death. It's also something that everyone should learn, even if they're not doctors or nurses! If you have any questions about how to perform CPR on someone in need of resuscitation .
Every year, countless lives are saved by bystanders who knew the basics of CPR. By acquiring this skill, you're not only preparing yourself but also contributing to a safer community.
In many emergencies, especially cardiac arrests, immediate response is crucial. And often, it's the people nearby – maybe even you – who can provide the earliest, most critical care. So, whether you're a parent, friend, colleague, or stranger, knowing CPR increases the chances of survival for the victim.
In conclusion, while we hope never to be in a situation where CPR is needed, having the skill provides peace of mind. Knowledge, especially in life-saving techniques, is invaluable. Let's equip ourselves with CPR knowledge because it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
