Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial life-saving technique used to revive individuals experiencing cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. CPR training is essential as it equips individuals with the necessary skills to respond to cardiac emergencies effectively. Knowing the steps of CPR and being able to perform them effectively can make a significant difference in the outcome of an emergency situation. MyCPR NOW offers comprehensive online CPR certification courses that teach the essential steps of CPR and equip individuals with the skills to respond confidently in critical situations. In this blog post, we will explore the key steps of CPR as recommended by MyCPR NOW, highlighting their importance and providing detailed guidance on how to perform each step correctly.
Step 1: Assess the Scene and Ensure Safety
Before initiating CPR, it is crucial to assess the scene and ensure your safety and the safety of others. Look for potential hazards or dangers that could compromise your well-being or hinder the delivery of effective CPR. If the environment is unsafe, take necessary precautions or wait for professional medical help to arrive. This step ensures that you do not become another victim and can provide uninterrupted care.
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Check for Immediate Hazards: Look for fire, electrical hazards, toxic substances, or unstable structures that might pose a risk.
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Personal Safety: Use personal protective equipment if available, especially in situations involving blood or bodily fluids.
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Secure the Area: Move any obstacles that might interfere with the resuscitation process.
Step 2: Check Responsiveness
Approach the victim and gently tap their shoulder while asking loudly, "Are you okay?" Observe their response and look for signs of consciousness or responsiveness. If there is no response or only a faint response, proceed to the next step. This step helps determine if the victim is unconscious and in need of immediate CPR.
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Firm but Gentle Tapping: Use a firm but gentle tap on the shoulder to avoid causing additional injury.
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Clear and Loud Communication: Shout clearly to ensure they can hear you if they are semi-conscious.
Step 3: Call for Help
If you are alone, call the emergency services or instruct someone nearby to do so. Ensure that professional medical help is on the way while you continue with CPR. Early activation of emergency services is crucial for the victim’s survival. Continue resuscitation efforts until emergency medical help arrives to maintain blood flow and oxygenation during cardiac emergencies.
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Use Speakerphone: Use your phone's speaker function to call emergency services while keeping your hands free for CPR.
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Provide Clear Information: Clearly describe the victim's condition, your location, and any specific details that might help responders.
Step 4: Open the Airway
Carefully position the victim on their back on a firm surface. Place one hand on the victim's forehead and two fingers of your other hand on their chin. Gently tilt their head back to open the airway, ensuring a clear passage for breathing. This step prevents the tongue from blocking the airway.
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Head-Tilt, Chin-Lift Technique: This technique is essential for preventing the tongue from obstructing the airway.
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Gentle Movements: Be gentle but firm to avoid causing injury, especially in cases of potential neck trauma.
Step 5: Check for Breathing
Look, listen, and feel for any signs of breathing. Watch for chest rise and fall, listen for sounds of breathing, and feel for exhaled air on your cheek. Do this for no more than 10 seconds. If the victim is not breathing or is only gasping, proceed to the next step. This step ensures that you accurately assess the victim’s need for CPR. Before checking for breathing, ensure that the person's mouth is clear of any obstructions.
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Observe Carefully: Pay close attention to subtle signs of breathing, including slight chest movements.
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Agonal Gasps: Recognize that agonal gasps (infrequent, irregular breaths) are not effective breathing and indicate the need for CPR.
Step 6: Perform Chest Compressions
Position yourself by kneeling beside the victim’s chest. It is crucial to begin chest compressions immediately if the person is not breathing. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the victim’s chest, slightly above the lower half of the breastbone. Place your other hand on top, interlacing your fingers. Keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly over your hands. Using the weight of your upper body, push hard and fast downward on the person's chest to restore blood flow, compressing the chest at a depth of at least two inches. Allow for full chest recoil between compressions.
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Proper Hand Placement: Correct hand placement is crucial to avoid injury and ensure effective compressions.
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Compression Depth and Rate: Aim for a compression rate of 100-120 compressions per minute and a depth of at least two inches.
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Full Recoil: Allow the chest to fully recoil between compressions to let the heart refill with blood.
Step 7: Deliver Rescue Breaths
After each set of 30 chest compressions, open the victim’s airway again by tilting their head back and lifting their chin. Pinch the victim’s nose closed, create a seal over their mouth with your mouth, and give two rescue breaths, each lasting about one second. Watch for visible chest rise with each breath. This step ensures that the victim receives oxygen to their lungs.
When performing CPR on a child, it is important to consider the size of the child's chest. If the child's chest is too small for both hands to be used for chest compressions, specific instructions should be followed for children over 1 year old.
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Effective Seal: Create a tight seal over the victim's mouth to prevent air from escaping.
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Observe Chest Rise: Ensure the chest visibly rises with each breath, indicating that air is entering the lungs.
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Barrier Device: Use a barrier device like a face shield or mask if available to reduce the risk of infection transmission.
Step 8: Continue CPR Cycles
Continue performing cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths until professional medical help arrives, an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) becomes available, or the victim shows signs of movement or normal breathing. Continuous CPR is essential for maintaining blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.
For untrained individuals, hands-only CPR is an effective method to perform in emergencies, especially when an adult or teen is in cardiac arrest. It is crucial to call emergency services before starting chest compressions to improve survival chances.
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Minimize Interruptions: Keep interruptions in chest compressions to less than 10 seconds.
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Alternate Rescuers: If another trained rescuer is available, switch every two minutes to avoid fatigue.
Step 9: Use an AED (if available)
If an AED is available, turn it on and follow the voice prompts or visual instructions provided. Apply the electrode pads to the victim's bare chest as directed and follow the device's instructions for delivering a shock if advised. AEDs can analyze the heart's rhythm and deliver a shock if necessary to restore a normal rhythm.
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Prepare the Chest: Ensure the chest is dry and remove any clothing, including bras, that might obstruct pad placement.
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Follow Prompts: Carefully follow the AED prompts without delay.
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Safety First: Make sure no one is touching the victim when the AED delivers a shock.
Step 10: Transition to Professional Medical Care
Once professional medical help arrives, allow the medical professionals to take over and continue with advanced life support measures. Provide them with relevant information about the victim's condition and the actions you have taken. This step ensures a smooth transition to advanced care, increasing the chances of survival.
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Provide Detailed Information: Inform the responders about the victim's condition, the number of compressions and breaths given, and the use of an AED.
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Assist if Needed: Be ready to assist the medical professionals if they require help.
Conclusion
Knowing the steps of CPR and being able to perform them effectively can be life-saving in emergency situations. MyCPR NOW offers comprehensive online CPR certification courses that provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to perform CPR correctly. By following the essential steps of CPR—assessing the scene, ensuring safety, checking responsiveness, calling for help, opening the airway, performing chest compressions, delivering rescue breaths, and utilizing an AED if available—you can significantly improve the chances of survival for individuals experiencing cardiac arrest or respiratory failure. Enroll in MyCPR NOW’s online CPR certification course today and gain the confidence to respond effectively in critical situations.
Performing CPR effectively can save a life in critical emergencies, including situations like heart attacks or drowning.
