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CPR – Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation

Administering first aid immediately to a sick or injured person may be the difference between life and death. Follow these life saving steps:

An easy way to remember what to do is to think of DR ABC = Danger Response Airway Breathing Circulation.

• Check for DANGER - always check the surrounding area for danger and if possible move sick or injured person away. NEVER put yourself at risk when doing this as this does not help the situation.

Dial 000 and ask for assistance

• Check for RESPONSE – check if the sick/injured person is conscious and responding. Ask questions ‘Can you hear me?’ and gently hold shoulders and shake person.
  • Conscious – reassure sick/injured person and seek medical advice.
  • Unconscious – Place sick/injured person onto their side and be sure to support their neck.

• Check the AIRWAY – Open airway by tilting sick/injured persons head back and slightly lift chin ( do not perform this on babies ). Check that nothing is in the mouth obstructing the airway.
• Check BREATHING –
  • Look – for movement in the chest ( rise and fall )
  • Listen – listen for breathing from mouth and nose.
  • Feel – for movement in the chest ( rise and fall )

Breathing – leave person lying on their side and continue checking them until medical assistance arrives.
Not breathing – Put the person onto their back, open airway by tilting their head back and slightly lifting their chin, and now commence rescue breathing as follows:

• Adult - pinch the persons nose and seal your mouth over their mouth and give 2 full breaths
• Child - use 2 small breaths for a child.
• Baby - seal your mouth over the baby’s mouth and nose and give 2 quick breaths (puff-like)

Ensure that there is visible chest movement ( rises and falls with each breath).
Recheck breathing, if the patient is still not breathing check for a pulse.

• Check CIRCULATION - Feel for the pulse. The pulse is located in the persons neck next to their Adam’s Apple. Do this using your fingers. If there is a pulse but no breathing continue rescue breathing as follows:
  • Adult – 1 breath every 4 seconds
  • Child – 1 breath every 3 seconds
  • Baby – 1 breath (puff-like) every 3 seconds

Ensure that thepersons chest rises and falls with each breath. Recheck breathing, if the person is still not breathing - recheck pulse now and every 2 minutes.

If there is no pulse commence CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) immediately.

• Adult - Position the heel of one hand on the centre of the lower half of breast bone while grasping the wrist with your other hand.
• Child – Position the heel of one hand on the centre of the lower half of the breast bone.
• Baby – Position 2 fingers in the centre of the breastbone just between the nipples.

Give 2 breaths to every 30 compressions (at 100 compressions per minute)

Compress chest to 1/3 of its depth.

If pulse returns but the person has no breathing continue rescue breathing until Ambulance arrives.