A Step-By-Step Guide To Performing CPR

Breathing: Breathe For The Patient

Pinch their nose and open their mouth. Place your mouth on theirs and breath in. You will want to use enough force to cause the chest to rise. Keep your eyes open and watch the chest cavity during this technique. Mouth to mouth can be intimidating, but you are helping the individual breath, do not forget that. You may also be able to use a one-way barrier, if available. Have someone check the AED case for one. The barrier prevents the passage of bodily fluids, including vomit, from passing between two individuals. Once you have performed the two lifesaving breaths, then repeat the thirty compressions again. This cycle should be repeated five times. You may get tired during the process. If you notice you cannot continue at the same pace or strength, ask if someone else knows CPR. You can take turns to keep up the pace. Hopefully, help has arrived by this time. Advise the 911 technician of the person's status. When it is all said and done, you may have just saved someone's life.

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Compressions Must Be Hard

To effectively pump blood throughout the body, CPR compressions must be hard. Generally, experts suggest individuals performing CPR aim for a depth of 5.5 centimeters (approximately two inches) for each compression. It takes roughly sixty pounds of force to compress the chest by this amount. Compressions deeper than two inches could cause damage to the patient's internal organs, and compressions that are too shallow will be ineffective. If there is doubt about whether the compressions are hard enough, it can be helpful to err on the side of being too forceful. While forceful compressions could break some of the patient's ribs, they may be necessary in order for the patient to live. CPR training courses and practice sessions with CPR dummies are recommended so providers can receive individualized guidance on achieving an appropriate compression depth.

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