CPR Certification Manual: Conclusion
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Recognizing Cardiac Arrest
- 3. Positioning & Pulse Check
- 4. Compressions for Adults
- 5. Compressions for Infants & Children
- 6. Ventilation Equipment
- 7. Ventilations for Adults
- 8. Ventilations for Infants & Children
- 9. AED Usage
- 10. AED Special Circumstances
- 11. Common Mistakes
- 12. Conclusion
- MyCPR Now™ Glossary
Conclusion
CPR and AED training prepares you to respond when a person experiences cardiac arrest. The most important actions are recognizing cardiac arrest quickly, activating emergency medical services, beginning high-quality CPR, and using an AED as soon as possible.
Adult CPR
If an adult is unresponsive and is not breathing normally or is only gasping:
- Call 911 and get an AED
- Begin chest compressions
- Compress at 100-120 per minute
- Compress at least 2 inches while avoiding excessive depth
- Allow complete chest recoil
- Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths when providing conventional CPR
- Use the AED as soon as possible
- Resume CPR immediately after AED analysis or shock
Child and Infant CPR
For an unresponsive child or infant who is not breathing normally:
- Activate emergency medical services
- Begin CPR promptly
- Give both compressions and rescue breaths when able
- Compress at 100-120 per minute
- Use age-appropriate compression depth and technique
- Use an AED as soon as possible
For infants, use the heel of one hand or a two-thumb chest-compression technique.
Pulse Checks
Lay rescuers do not need to check for a pulse before beginning CPR. If you are specifically trained to perform a pulse check and your professional role or protocol calls for one, limit the assessment to no more than 10 seconds and do not delay compressions.
AED Priorities
Remember:
Turn it on → attach pads → clear for analysis → shock if advised → immediately resume CPR
Follow the AED's prompts throughout the emergency.
Continue Care
Continue CPR and AED use until:
- The person shows clear signs of life
- Professional emergency responders take over
- The scene becomes unsafe
- You become physically unable to continue
Final Reminder
Cardiac arrest is a race against time — recognizing it quickly and acting without hesitation gives a person the best chance of survival.
High-Quality CPR is built around a few priorities:
Recognize quickly → Call for help → Compress effectively → Give appropriate breaths → Use the AED early → Minimize interruptions