Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Step 1
Never perform CPR on someone who is conscious or breathing. To determine if the victim is conscious, yell "Are you
OK?" and firmly shake the victim. (Do not shakethe victim if you see evidence of serious injury, such as broken
bones or bleeding.)
If you get no response, lay the victim on his back. Open the airway by placing the palm of your hand on his forehead
(fig. 1).
While pushing the forehead back, use your other hand (which should be alongside his jaw) to lift the chin forward.
Step 2
If you suspect the victim has a neck injury, do not tilt the head (fig. 2).
Place your hands alongside the cheeks and pull the face toward you with your index fingers. Look inside his mouth.
Sweep out any debris with your finger.
Step 3
Next, determine if the victim is breathing (fig. 3).
First, look at his chest. Is it moving? Put your cheek next to his mouth. Do you feel any breath? Do you hear any sounds? If not, begin rescue breathing.
Step 4
Tilt the victim's head back and take a deep breath. Pinch the victim's nose closed. Place your mouth over the victim's
mouth and exhale (fig. 4).
Repeat again. As you exhale air, you should see the victim's chest rise.
Step 5
Check the victim for a pulse. Put your first two fingers on his neck, just to the side of the Adam's apple
(fig. 5).
If he has a pulse but is still not breathing, continue rescue breathing until help arrives or the victim begins
breathing on his own.
Step 6
If there is still no pulse, begin chest compressions (fig. 6).
Place the heel of your hand on the victim's chest just above the V of the ribs. Put your other hand on top of your
first hand with fingers interlocked. Keep your arms straight and your elbows locked.
Push down with both hands in a pumping motion. If the victim is an adult, do this 15 times while counting
one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three, etc. Give two breaths and then 15 more chest compressions.
Repeat. If the victim is a child, use the same procedure, but give just five compressions followed by just one breath,
instead of the 15 adult compressions and two breaths.
Check for breathing and a pulse after four cycles. Continue the pattern until help arrives, or until the victim begins
breathing on his own.