CPR (stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a skill that literally saves people’s lives. This is a specific technique that people use on someone if that person isn’t breathing properly or if their heart stops beating as a result of a sudden cardiac arrest. The procedure is the same for both children and adults with some minor differences, which will be pointed out further in the article.
Firstly, let’s have a look at what steps are the same for both groups:
1. Check if the person is unresponsive – tap their shoulder and ask them how they feel, if they don’t answer follow the steps below
2. Call the ambulance – as soon as you come across a severely injured or unresponsive person immediately phone emergency medical services, they will give you instructions if you have never been trained for CPR
3. Open the person’s airway by tilting their head backwards and lifting their chin to open
4. Check if the person is breathing by looking at their chest for movements, listening for breathing sounds and even try feeling for their breaths on your own cheek – you can start with the chest compressions only if there is no breathing or you hear only heavy breathing - gasps
5. Chest compressions are performed with both hands – one hand (the heel of the hand) on the center of the chest, then put your other hand on top of the first. Using your body weight, press down the hands about 2 inches deep (for adults) and shallower compressions for children. You should perform 100-120 compressions per minute. 1 compression consists of one pressing down and a release.
6. Mouth-to-mouth breathing – pinch the soft part of the person’s nose shut, inhale, and give two breaths in the other person’s mouth. The breaths shouldn’t be longer than 1 second.
7. Perform 30 chest compressions and give 2 breaths in cycles until help arrives or the person becomes responsive
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