Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR).
At Jay’s Aim we believe cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most vital skill a human being can learn - what could be more important than knowing how to save another life?
This section of the website will explain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in detail, describe how to do it and explain why it is a crucial link in the ‘chain of survival’ that can keep somebody alive after a cardiac arrest.
What is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving skill. With a little training, anyone can use it to provide emergency aid to someone who is unconscious and has stopped breathing. If a casualty receives effective CPR as soon as they stop breathing, their chance of survival increases dramatically; if a defibrillator can be found and used simultaneously, their chance of survival is increased yet further. The defibrillator can also help to reassure the rescuer, as it will give visual and audio prompts about the CPR being given.
CPR comprises two components, namely compressions and rescue breaths. The compressions are given by the rescuer pushing on the casualty’s chest, which enables the heart to continue to pump blood around the casualty’s body. The rescue breaths are given when the rescuer breathes into the casualty’s lungs, helping the blood being pumped around their body to remain oxygenated. These two components are fairly simple, but they are so important - not only can they keep a casualty alive, but they can also prevent them from sustaining life-changing injuries, such as brain damage.
The chance of surviving a cardiac arrest rises from 6% to 74% if a Defibrillator & CPR is used within the first 3-5 minutes.
Common questions about CPR
What is a cardiac arrest? A cardiac arrest is an electrical problem with the heart. In a healthy heart, an electrical signal is fired regularly to make the heart beat, pumping oxygenated blood to the brain and around the body. When somebody has a cardiac arrest, the electrical signal becomes irregular or stops completely, which causes the person to become unconscious and to stop breathing – at this point, CPR is required immediately.
Is a cardiac arrest different from a heart attack? Yes, a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem with the heart, while a heart attack is a circulatory problem to do with a lack of blood-flow to the heart. Somebody having a heart attack will be in a lot of pain, but normally they will remain conscious. Cardiac arrests and heart attacks are both very serious - a heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest if not treated. In both instances, 999 should be called immediately and the ambulance service requested.
Can I make the situation worse by attempting CPR on a casualty? The simple answer is ‘no’; somebody in cardiac arrest will die if they don’t receive CPR. Giving CPR is definitely very stressful - even the professionals don’t always perform the technique perfectly in an emergency – but be assured that doing the best you can is better than doing nothing!
How to do Adult CPR.
This list outlines the steps followed when carrying out adult CPR.
Check for danger
Before attempting to give first aid, you must always check for danger to yourself or anybody else at the scene. Check the environment to ensure it is safe to approach; if it is not safe, call 999 immediately and wait for the emergency services to arrive.
Check for a response.
To check for a response, kneel beside the casualty and place your hands on their shoulders. Gently shake them, whilst at the same time asking them if they can hear you. If you are in a noisy environment you may need to shout.
Shout for help.
If the casualty does not respond, try and get some help. Shout loudly to get the attention of people nearby, and ask them to come over to you.
Check for breathing.
Check breathing for 10 seconds (gasping is not normal breathing).
Open the casualty’s airway by placing one had on their forehead and two fingers of the other hand underneath their chin to carefully tilt their head backwards.
Put your head close to the casualty’s face and look down their chest. Listen for breathing, feel for their breath against your face and look to see if their chest is rising and falling.
Call 999 immediately and send someone to get a defibrillator.
If the casualty is not breathing, ask someone to call 999 immediately and to get a defibrillator whilst you start CPR. If there is nobody to help, make the call yourself and put your phone on speaker whilst starting CPR. The ambulance service will talk you through the steps of CPR, so don’t hang up.
Start compressions.
Place the palm of one hand in the centre of the casualty’s chest and put the other hand on top, interlocking the fingers if you wish. Keeping your arms straight, push down hard to a depth of 5-6 centimetres. Repeat this action 30 times, continuing to push to a depth of 5-6cms before allowing the chest to rise completely before pushing again. The 30 compressions should be delivered at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute, or about 2 compressions every second.
Give 2 rescue breaths.
After 30 compressions have been given open the casualty’s airway by placing one had on their forehead and two fingers of the other hand underneath their chin to carefully tilt their head backwards.
Keeping their head tilted back with two fingers underneath their chin, use the other hand to pinch their nose shut using your thumb and forefinger. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth for about 1 second. Check that their chest rises. Follow this first breath with a second rescue breath.
When the defibrillator arrives, turn it on and follow the prompts.
Continue to give CPR at a rate of 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths until professional help arrives, or the casualty shows signs of consciousness, such as opening their eyes or breathing normally.
Learn how to do CPR.
Got a spare 2 minutes? Why not watch our short film explaining how to do adult CPR?
CPR Training.
Jay’s Aim provides free-to-attend CPR and defibrillator training throughout South-West England.