CPR Certification Manual: Recognizing Cardiac Arrest

Recognizing Cardiac Arrest

Rapid recognition of cardiac arrest allows CPR and AED use to begin as quickly as possible.

A person in cardiac arrest is:

• Unresponsive
• Not breathing normally, or only gasping

Occasional gasps are not normal breathing and should not delay CPR.

Check Responsiveness

Ensure the scene is safe before approaching. For an adult or child, tap the shoulders and speak loudly. For an infant, gently tap the foot and speak loudly. If the person does not respond, call for help.

Check Breathing

Look for normal breathing. Do not spend excessive time watching the chest or attempting to determine whether unusual gasping is normal. If the person is unresponsive and is not breathing normally or is only gasping, treat the situation as cardiac arrest.

Activate Emergency Medical Services

Call 911 or direct another person to call.

If someone else is available:

• Have that person call 911
• Send that person to retrieve an AED
• Begin CPR immediately

When alone, use a mobile phone on speaker mode when possible so emergency services can be contacted without unnecessarily delaying CPR.

Adults

For an unresponsive adult who is not breathing normally or is only gasping, begin CPR and use an AED as soon as possible.

Children and Infants

For an unresponsive child or infant who is not breathing normally, begin CPR promptly. Breaths are particularly important during pediatric CPR because cardiac arrest in children and infants frequently follows a breathing problem.

Do Not Delay CPR

Do not delay chest compressions while performing a prolonged assessment. When cardiac arrest is suspected, rapid action is more important than attempting to determine the exact cause.