Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR is an emergency protocol which is often used for immediate First AID is conditions of Heart attack and near Drowning where the Heart beat or Breathing is stopped. The American Heart Association has recommended to start CPR with hard and fast compression. This Hand-only CPR technique recommendation applies to both untrained amateur and fast responders.

If the exact way of performing CPR is not know to someone but there is an emergency they they should always try it. As it is always better to something rather than doing nothing.

Check before you start :

1. Is the environment safe for the victim?
2. If the victim conscious or unconscious?
3. If the victim is unconscious, tap or shake the shoulder and ask loudly, “Are You OK? “
4. If the victim don’t respond, ask someone to call for medical emergency and you should start for the CPR immediately, without having any second thought.
5. Call for medical emergency or local emergency for an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), as soon as it is available give a shock as instructed by the device and start CPR.

American Heart Association recommends:

• Untrained – If you are not expert on the technique or worried about giving the rescue breaths, then go for the Hand-only CPR only. It includes uninterrupted chest compressions 100 to 120 for a minute untill paramedics has arrived. Don’t try rescue breathing.

• Fully Trained – If you are well trained and confident enough, then just check for breathing and pulse. If there is no pulse or breathing within 10sec then begin with Chest Compressions. Start CPR with 30 chest compressions then give 2 rescue breaths.

• Partially Trained – If you’ve received CPR training before but you’re not confident in your abilities, then just do chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 for a minute only.

The above mentioned instructions are applied to situations in which adults, children and infants need CPR, but not newborns (infants up to 4 weeks old).

CPR can maintain the oxygen-rich blood flow to the brain and other organs until emergency medical treatment restores a normal heart rhythm. When the heart stops, the body no longer gets oxygen-rich blood. The lack of oxygen-rich blood can cause brain damage within a few minutes.

If you are untrained and have immediate access to a phone, call for emergency before beginning CPR. The emergency help services can instruct you in the proper procedures until help arrives. To learn CPR properly, get an accredited first-aid training course, including CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Spell C-A-B :

The American Heart Association used the letter C-A-B to help people to check for the following before starting a CPR

• C – Compression
• A – Airway
• B – Breathing

Compression : Maintains the blood flow.

Compression are the pushing forces by using hands on a specific position on a person’s chest which helps the heart to pump blood artificially. The steps are mentioned below.

1. Put the person on his/her back (supine) on a solid surface.
2. Kneel down next to the person’s neck and shoulders.
3. Place the heel of your hand (lower palm) over the center of the person’s chest, between the nipples.
4. Place the other hand on top of the first hand. Keep your elbows straight and bring your shoulders directly above your hands.
5. Push straight down (compress) on the chest at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 centimeters). Use your entire body weight (not just your arms) during compressions.
6. Push hard at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute. The American Heart Association suggests performing compressions to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive.” Allow the chest to recoil (spring back) after each push.
7. If you aren’t been trained in CPR, continue chest compressions until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over. If you are been trained in CPR, go on to opening the airway and rescue breathing.

Airways : Open the airways.

If you’re trained in CPR and you’ve already performed 30 chest compressions, open the person’s airway by using the head-tilt_chin-lift maneuver. Put your one palm on the person’s forehead and gently tilt the head back. Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway.

Breathing : Breathe for the person.

Rescue breathing can be of two ways mouth-to-mouth breathing or mouth-to-nose breathing if the mouth is majorly injured or can’t be opened. Current recommendations suggest performing rescue breathing using a bag-mask device with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

1. After opening the airway (using the head-tilt_chin-lift maneuver), pinch the nostrils shut for mouth-to-mouth breathing and cover the person’s mouth with yours, making a seal.
2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Give the first rescue breath — lasting one second — and watch to see if the chest rises.
3. If the chest rises, give a second breath.
4. If the chest doesn’t rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give a second breath. Thirty chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths is considered one cycle. Be careful not to provide too many breaths or to breathe with too much force.
5. Resume chest compressions to restore blood flow.
6. As soon as an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, apply it and follow the prompts. Give one shock, then resume chest compressions for two more minutes before giving a second shock. If you’re not trained to use an AED, a 911 operator or another emergency medical operator may be able to give you instructions. If an AED isn’t available, go to step 5 below.
7. Continue CPR until there are signs of movement or emergency medical personnel take over.