CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) usually involves a combination of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breaths, but the exact method of administration varies according to the victim's identity. Here's what you need to know to perform CPR on adults, children, babies and pets.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Quick Hands Only CPR for Adults and Adolescents
Step 1. Check the victim's state of consciousness
If an adult or adolescent falls to the ground but remains conscious, CPR is not required. If he loses consciousness or no longer shows signs of life, however, you should perform CPR.
- CPR involving only the use of hands is ideal for those who have not received formal training in this technique. It does not provide for mouth-to-mouth respiration associated with traditional CPR.
- Gently shrug the victim's shoulders or shout "Are you okay?" If you do not receive any response, begin the CPR procedure immediately.
Step 2. In Europe call 113 but in Italy call 118
You should immediately call an ambulance before doing anything else.
If there are two or more people present, have one of them call an ambulance as you begin CPR
Step 3. Have the victim lie on their back
To perform CPR, the victim must be lying on their back with the chest facing up.
- Gently roll the victim onto their back. If possible, spread it out on a hard surface.
- Kneel next to the victim near their shoulders.
- Note that you should not move the victim if you suspect they may be suffering from a head or neck injury.
Step 4. Quickly push the center of the victim's chest
Place one hand directly over the victim's breastbone and the other over the first. Press the victim's chest firmly and quickly.
- Your compressions should roughly follow the bars of the disco song "Stayin 'Alive".
- More precisely, your compressions should be around 100 reps per minute, as a minimum.
- Press your chest as hard as you can without sacrificing frequency.
Step 5. Keep repeating the movement as long as necessary
Perform compressions this way until the victim regains consciousness or until paramedics arrive.
Method 2 of 4: Conventional CPR for Adults and Children
Step 1. Check the victim's state of consciousness
If the victim is unconscious and unresponsive to external stimuli, you will need to start practicing CPR.
- Gently touch or shake the victim's shoulders. If it doesn't respond, you should prepare to perform CPR.
- Ask aloud "Are you okay?". If the victim doesn't respond, be prepared to perform CPR.
Step 2. Call 113
If two people are present, have the other person call the ambulance as you begin CPR. If only you are present, call the ambulance immediately.
- If you are doing CPR on a 1-8-year-old child, do five rounds of chest compressions and breaths before calling the ambulance if you are the only person present. It should take about two minutes. In the presence of two people, on the other hand, one will have to call the ambulance immediately.
- For adults, there is an exception to this rule. If the victim has fainted as a result of drowning or suffocation, practice 1 minute of CPR before calling the ambulance.
- Calling an ambulance will bring paramedics to the scene. Typically, the PBX will be able to tell you how to perform CPR.
Step 3. Have the victim lie on their back
Place it so that your back rests on a hard surface. Kneel next to the victim so that your knees are level with the victim's neck and shoulders.
If the victim may have suffered a head or neck injury, you should not move them to avoid aggravating their condition
Step 4. Place one hand over the center of the victim's chest
Place the part of the dominant hand near the wrist above the victim's breastbone, between the nipples. Place your other hand directly on top of the first.
- You should keep your elbows straight and your shoulders above your hands.
- If you need to perform CPR on a child between the ages of 1 and 8, use only one hand to perform the compressions.
Step 5. Perform chest compressions
Push straight down to compress your chest at least 5cm. Keep pushing like this, keeping a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute.
- This equates to approximately 5 compressions in 3 seconds.
- The pace you should keep is the same for adults and children.
- For children between the ages of 1 and 8, you should compress the breastbone to one-third or one-half the thickness of his ribcage.
- If you are not trained in CPR, continue to perform compressions until the victim regains consciousness or when paramedics arrive.
- If you have received training, perform 30 compressions before moving on to the next step.
Step 6. Tilt the victim's head to clear the airway
Place your palm on the victim's forehead and tilt their head back slightly. Use your other hand to gently lift your chin forward, thus opening your airways.
- Wait 5-10 seconds to check for normal breathing. Look for chest movements, listen for breathing, and see if you can feel the victim's breathing on the cheek or ear.
- Note that gasping for air is not considered normal breathing.
Step 7. Put your mouth over the victim's mouth
Use one hand to plug the victim's nose. Cover her mouth completely with yours.
You will need to form a seal with your mouth so that no air can escape as you try to practice mouth-to-mouth
Step 8. Take two breaths
Breathe into the victim's mouth for 1 second. Check his chest to make sure he rises when you let in the air. If this happens, continue with the second breath.
- If the victim's chest does not rise after the first breath, try to clear the airways again by tilting the head back and lifting the chin before taking the second breath.
- If you practice CPR on a child between the ages of 1 and 8, breathe more gently.
- Remember that 30 compressions and two breaths are considered one CPR cycle. This applies to both adults and children.
Step 9. Repeat the cycle if necessary
Follow the two breaths with another set of 30 chest compressions and two more breaths. Repeat until the victim regains consciousness or until paramedics arrive.
Method 3 of 4: CPR for Infants (Under 1 Year)
Step 1. Assess the situation
The most common cause of childhood suffocation is airway obstruction. You should evaluate the situation to determine if the airways are completely or only partially obstructed.
- If the child coughs or wheezes, the airways are only partially blocked. Let the baby continue coughing, as this is the best way to remove the obstruction.
- If the baby is unable to cough and his complexion turns deep red or blue, the airways are completely blocked. You will need to do back blows and chest compressions to remove the obstruction.
- If your baby is sick, suffering from an allergic reaction, or is choking because the airways are swollen, you can perform compressions and breaths, but you will need to call an ambulance right away.
Step 2. Call 113
If another person is present, let them call the ambulance as you begin CPR. If you are alone, do CPR for two minutes before calling 113.
If you suspect the victim is choking due to a swollen airway, call 911 immediately
Step 3. Place the baby between the forearms
Place it so that it faces face up on one of your forearms. Wrap his neck with the hand of the same arm. Put the other forearm in front of the baby and gently rotate it so that it is facing down and remains tight in the arms.
- Use your thumb and fingers to hold the baby's jaw as you turn it.
- Bring your lower arm to your thigh. The baby's head should be lower than his chest.
- Note that you should only hit the baby's back if he is still conscious. If the baby faints, stop the blows on the back and immediately proceed with the compressions and breaths.
Step 4. Swipe the baby's back to remove the instructions
Use the part of the hand near the wrist to perform five gentle but firm strokes to the back, between the baby's shoulder blades.
Continue to support the baby's neck and head by holding the jaw between the thumb and fingers
Step 5. Put the baby on his back
After performing the back blows, place your free hand on the back of the baby's neck, keeping your arm along his spine. Carefully rotate the baby to put him face up again.
The baby should be held tightly in the arms as you turn it
Step 6. Place your fingers in the center of the baby's chest
Place the tips of two or three fingers in the center of the baby's chest while supporting his neck and head with the other hand.
- Use your thumb and fingers to hold the jaw while holding the baby tightly between your forearms. The lower arm should support the baby's back above the opposite thigh, and the baby's head should be lower than the rest of the body.
- You could also place the baby on his back on a hard, flat surface, such as a table or the floor.
- You should place your fingers between the baby's nipples in the center of his chest.
Step 7. Gently squeeze your chest
Push the chest straight down, squeezing it about 4 cm.
- If the baby is conscious, do only 5 compressions.
- If the baby is unconscious, give 30 compressions.
- Push quickly with a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
- Each squeeze should be done smoothly with no abrupt or indefinite movements.
Step 8. Carefully clear your airways
Gently tilt the baby's head back by lifting the chin with one hand and pushing on the forehead with the other. Don't bend the baby's neck too far back though, as this could cause an injury.
It takes 10 seconds or less to check for breath. You should be able to feel the baby's breath on the skin, hear the sound of it, or notice chest movements
Step 9. Cover the baby's nose and mouth with your mouth
You won't have to pinch your nose like an adult. Instead, it seals the baby's airways by placing the entire mouth over the victim's nose and mouth.
Step 10. Give two gentle mouth-to-mouth breaths
Blow into the baby's mouth. If the chest moves, proceed with the second breath.
- If the chest is not moving, try to clear the airways again before proceeding with the second breath.
- Don't blow lungs at all. Instead, use your cheek muscles to give light puffs.
Step 11. Check for foreign objects obstructing the airways
Look into the baby's mouth for objects that may impede normal breathing. If you can see the object, carefully remove it using your little finger.
Step 12. Repeat the cycle as needed
Repeat the compressions and breaths until the baby starts breathing again or until paramedics arrive.
- If you suspect that the baby is choking on a foreign object, you should look in the mouth after each set of compressions is finished.
- Each cycle should consist of 30 compressions followed by two breaths.
Method 4 of 4: CPR for Dogs and Cats
Step 1. Assess the situation
If the dog or cat has fainted, you will need to practice CPR. However, if the animal is showing signs of life, you should contact a veterinarian right away before starting to proceed.
- Check the animal's breathing. Place your hand in front of your nose and mouth to feel the breath. Do not completely cover the airways.
- Check your pulse. Place one ear on the chest area where the animal's right front elbow touches it and listen for the pulse.
Step 2. Remove physical obstructions
You will need to stick the animal's tongue out and remove all obstructions.
- Carefully pull your tongue forward and out of your mouth. Note that an unconscious animal may still bite instinctively.
- Check your throat for foreign bodies. If you see something, carefully remove it using your fingers.
Step 3. Straighten the pet's neck
Use both hands carefully to move the animal's head until the neck is straightened.
You should not move the pet's neck if you suspect a possible neck or head injury
Step 4. Practice mouth-to-nose breathing
Close the animal's mouth and blow into its nose until you notice an expansion of the chest. Repeat the breathing 12-15 times per minute, or once every 4-5 seconds.
- For larger dogs, close the dog's jaws tightly and breathe directly into his nose.
- For small dogs and cats, you will usually be able to cover their nose and mouth with your mouth.
- If the chest does not rise, try to clear the airways again before trying another breath.
Step 5. Lay the animal on its side
For cats, small dogs, and large funnel-chested dogs, gently position your pet so that he lies on his right side.
For large dogs that do not have a funnel chest, you can place the dog on their back
Step 6. Put a hand on your heart
Place your dominant hand in the point of the chest just below the elbow of the left front leg. The heart of the animal is located at this point.
Place your other hand under your heart for support
Step 7. Gently squeeze the animal's chest
Use your dominant hand to put pressure on the animal's heart. Press quickly, compressing the chest 2.5 cm for medium-sized dogs.
- For larger dogs, use more force. For smaller animals, use less.
- To massage the heart of a cat of a small animal, compress the chest using only the thumbs and index fingers.
- Perform 60 compressions per minute for dogs over 27 kg.
- Perform 80-100 compressions per minute for animals between 5 and 27 kg.
- Perform 120 compressions per minute for animals weighing less than 5 kg.
Step 8. Repeat the cycle if necessary
Alternate breathing and compressions until your pet regains consciousness or resumes breathing on its own.
Step 9. Contact an emergency veterinary clinic
When your pet's heart starts beating again and he can breathe on his own, take him immediately to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic for appropriate treatment.
Advice
It was once recommended to check the victim's pulse before starting CPR, but this recommendation is no longer valid for ordinary people. This practice is expected from professional medical personnel though
Warnings
- If you have not received training in the CPR, it is recommended to practice the version that involves the use of the hands only. Squeeze the victim's chest until paramedics arrive, but don't try a breath.
- If you have received formal training, follow all the measures recommended in this article.
