Chest compressions take over for the heart when it stops beating properly due to cardiac arrest. As a part of CPR, this technique requires no equipment and no medical background. What it does require is correct hand placement, the right depth, and a steady rhythm fast enough to keep blood moving to the brain.
What Is CPR?
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique that combines chest compressions with rescue breaths to manually pump blood and oxygen through the body when the heart and lungs cannot do so on their own. The goal is to maintain enough blood flow to keep the brain and other organs alive to restore the person to consciousness or to keep them stable until professional medical help arrives.
The DRSABCD Action Plan
The DRSABCD action plan outlines what to do when someone needs CPR chest compressions.
Danger comes first. Before you can help anyone, you must check for hazards that could put you, bystanders, or the patient at risk. Look for dangers such as traffic, fire, electrical wires, or unstable structures.
Response is the next step. Check if the person responds by asking their name loudly and squeezing their shoulders firmly. If there is no response, they are unconscious and need help.
Send for help by calling 000. If there are other bystanders, have someone else do it for you so you can begin CPR.
Airway assessment has you opening the mouth and checking for foreign material such as food, vomit, or blood. If you find something blocking the airway, roll the person onto their side and clear the material with your fingers. Never perform a blind sweep as this can push obstructions deeper.
Breathing assessment requires you to look, listen, and feel for normal breathing. Look for chest movement, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air on your cheek.
CPR should begin immediately if the person is not breathing normally.
Defibrillation using an AED should occur if the person’s heart is not breathing properly. This should be done as part of CPR in between cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths.
How to Perform Chest Compressions
Sometimes chest compressions are all you need. If someone is breathing but their heart is not beating then rescue breaths will not do anything useful. Compression-only CPR is useful in these situations, or if you are unwilling to give rescue breaths for any reason. Some CPR is always better than no CPR.
To give chest compressions, first position the person on their back on a firm surface. Kneel beside them and place the heel of your hand on the centre of their chest, on the lower half of the sternum. Place your other hand on top of the first, interlacing your fingers. Keep your arms straight with your shoulders directly above your hands.
Compression depth for adults should be approximately 5cm. Push hard and fast at a compression rate of 1 to 2 compressions every second. After each compression, let the chest rise completely before pushing down again.
Rescue Breaths
When giving full CPR, after every 30 chest compressions perform two rescue breaths. To deliver rescue breaths, gently place one hand on the person’s forehead and tilt it back while using your fingers to pinch their nose closed. Place your other hand on their chin and tilt it away to open their mouth. Create a seal over their mouth with yours, and give two breaths. Each breath should last about one second and make the chest rise visibly. If their chest does not rise either their head is not tilted correctly or there are still obstructions in the throat.
After giving 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths, either use an AED in instances of cardiac arrest or resume the cycle. Continue CPR until professional help arrives, someone takes over, the person recovers, or you are physically unable to continue.
CPR for Children and Infants
The same compression to ventilation ratio of 30:2 applies for a single rescuer performing CPR on children and infants. However, your techniques must be adjusted based on the child’s size.
For children under the age of one, perform chest compressions using two fingers instead of your hand. The chest compression depth for infants should be approximately 4cm, which is about one-third of the chest depth. Rescue breaths should be replaced with gentle puffs of air to avoid overloading their smaller, developing lungs. Infants under this age also do not require a head tilt.
Learn to Perform CPR and Life-Saving First Aid
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation gives cardiac arrest victims the best opportunity for a successful recovery. Every Australian should know how to perform chest compressions as a part of CPR. Our nationally accredited CPR training courses (HLTAID009) teach the correct techniques to act in an emergency and save a life.
FAQs
Should I Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) On Children Under 1?
No. For infants under 1 year old, a manual defibrillator operated by a trained health professional is preferred. If a manual defibrillator is not available, an AED with paediatric pads and dose attenuation may be used.
Can I Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a First Aid Course?
Yes. CPR training is a core component of HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) training courses. These courses require updating every three years compared to CPR skills which need refresher training annually.
What Are the Signs of Cardiac Arrest
The signs include sudden collapse, unresponsiveness when touched or spoken to, and absence of normal breathing. Some people may have brief warning symptoms beforehand, such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations.dapibus leo.
