Welcome to our comprehensive guide on performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In this article, we’ll give you detailed instructions on how to perform CPR effectively. CPR is a life-saving technique used in emergencies when a person’s heart has stopped beating, or they have stopped breathing. Following the proper CPR procedure can significantly increase the chances of saving someone’s life. So, let’s dive into the details and learn how to perform CPR like a pro.
Understanding Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency that combines chest compression with rescue breaths. Its purpose is to restore blood circulation and provide oxygen to the brain and other vital organs when the heart has stopped beating, or the person is not breathing adequately. CPR buys precious time until professional medical help arrives.
The DRSABCD Approach: A Quick Summary
Before we delve into the step-by-step guide, let’s familiarise ourselves with the DRSABCD approach. DRSABCD is an acronym known as the initial action plan in a first aid situation. It is a crucial element in responding to emergencies. The Acronym stands for:
- D – Check for Danger: Assess the surroundings for immediate threats or dangers that could harm you or the victim. Ensure the scene is safe before proceeding.
- R – Check for Response: Tap the person gently and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” Look for any signs of responsiveness, such as movement or a verbal response.
- S – Send for Help: If the person is unresponsive or not breathing normally, immediately call emergency services (in Australia, dial triple zero – 000) or ask someone nearby to make the call.
- A – Open the Airway: Carefully tilt the person’s head back by placing one hand on their forehead and lifting the chin with two fingers. This maneuver helps open the airway.
- B – Check for Breathing: Lean over the person’s mouth and nose, and look, listen, and feel for normal breathing. If absent or irregular, it’s time to initiate CPR.
- C – Start Compression: Begin chest compressions to restore blood circulation. This step is critical in keeping vital organs supplied with oxygenated blood.
- D – Use an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available. Attach the AED pads to the person’s chest as instructed and allow the device to analyse their heart rhythm. Follow the AED prompts for delivering a shock if necessary.
Now that we understand the basics of the DRSABCD approach let’s proceed with the detailed step-by-step guide on performing CPR effectively.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing CPR
Step 1: Check for Danger. Ensure Safety and Assess the Situation
Before initiating CPR, always prioritise your safety and assess the situation. Ensure that you are not putting yourself or others in harm’s way. Assessing potential dangers is based on your perception of what you consider dangerous. For example, you may perceive the traffic as hazardous and fear that if you go to someone’s aid, you might get hit by a car! In this situation, do not put yourself in harm’s way. It would be best if you did not put yourself in a position were you could be injured or worse. This will only make it harder for emergency services when they arrive. Wait for emergency services to come to secure the environment. On the other hand, if the domain is safe, then proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Check for a response
Check if the person is responsive. If you do not know the person and are in unfamiliar surroundings, be careful when approaching them. They may be under drugs and or alcohol and lash out at you. Instead, in these situations, first, yell out to the person from a distance to see if they respond to your voice. If they are not responding, move closer until you can place your hands on their shoulders. Squeeze their hands and ask them some questions in a loud voice. You could use the C.O.W.S acronym. C.O.W.S stand for, Can you hear me? Please open your eyes, Wake Up, Squeeze my hand. Your objective is to appeal to the person’s hearing and sense of touch to see if they are responsive.
Step 3: Send for help
If there is no response, then you should immediately send for help. If there are bystanders or your work colleagues close by, call triple zero (000) directly and ask for an ambulance. It is a good idea to have the person confirm that they have reached triple zero (000). If you’re alone, you may need to put your mobile telephone on speaker, dial triple zero (000), and make the call yourself. Getting help is critical as life’s casualties may depend on it.
Step 4: Open the Airway and Check for Breathing
While waiting for help to arrive, carefully position the person on their back on a firm surface. Tilt their head back gently by placing one hand on their forehead and lifting the chin with two fingers of your other hand. This maneuver opens the airway. Lean over the person’s mouth and nose, and look, listen, and feel for normal breathing. If they are not breathing at all or not breathing normally, you must start chest compression immediately. Every minute that passes while a person is unconscious and not living, their chance of survival falls by approximately 10% per minute! So if the person is lying on the ground, unconscious and not breathing, delaying chest compressions by 3 minutes reduces the person’s chance of survival by approximately 30%!
Step 5: Start Chest Compression
Place the heel of one hand on the centre of the person’s chest, slightly above the lower half of the sternum. Interlock your other hand on top, keeping your arms straight. Position yourself directly over the person’s chest, aligning your shoulders above your hands. Push down firmly and quickly to a depth of about 5 centimetres, then let the chest return to its original position. The objective is to conduct 30 chest compressions at approximately one contraction every 2 seconds. Once you have completed 30 reductions, you may give the casualty two rescue breaths (see step 5). Continue to do so until the casualty regains conscientiousness or paramedics arrive. Remember to allow the chest to recoil fully between contractions.
Step 6: Give Rescue Breaths
After 30 compressions, again open the person’s airway using the head tilt and chin lift technique. Pinch the person’s nostrils shut with your hand on their forehead. Take a normal breath, cover their mouth with yours, and deliver a rescue breath that lasts about one second, watching for the rise of the person’s chest. Repeat this step twice, ensuring two effective rescue breaths are given. Rescue breaths are not mandatory in Australia. Depending on your situation, you choose to participate in voluntary actions as a first aider. For example, if you know the person and care for them, you may choose to do the rescue breaths. On the other hand, if the person is a stranger and you are uncomfortable with placing your mouth on theirs, you are under no obligation to do rescue breaths. The choice is yours.
Step 7: Continue CPR and Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Continue performing cycles of 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths until professional medical help arrives or the person starts to breathe normally. Ask someone to locate an Automatic defibrillator if possible. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device that analyses the person’s heart once attached and determines if there is a heart rhythm of any description. If the defibrillator detects a shockable heart rhythm, it will deliver a shock to the person to reset the heart and get them breathing again. Continue CPR while the defibrillator is attached. Follow the verbal instructions of the defibrillator. When you combine CPR with an AED, the chances of survival are significantly enhanced. Studies show that the probability of survival when performing CPR while a defibrillator is in use is as high as 80%.
Continue to perform CPR while the defibrillator is attached, stopping only when the person starts to breathe normally again; medical assistance arrives and asks you to stop; you are physically exhausted. You cannot continue; somebody else takes over and relieves you, or it becomes unsafe to continue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is CPR?
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is an emergency procedure performed on individuals whose heart has stopped or who are not breathing adequately. CPR involves chest compressions and rescue breaths to maintain blood flow and oxygenation.
Q2: When should I perform CPR?
CPR should be performed when a person is unresponsive, not breathing normally, or has no pulse. It is essential to start CPR as soon as possible while waiting for professional medical help to arrive.
Q3: Do I need to be certified to perform CPR?
While certification in CPR is beneficial, anyone can perform CPR in an emergency. However, it is recommended to receive proper training and certification to ensure you can perform CPR effectively and confidently.
For more detailed guidelines and information on CPR, we recommend visiting the official website of the Australian Resuscitation Council.
Conclusion
This comprehensive guide has equipped you with the knowledge and skills to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) effectively. Remember, in any emergency, your safety comes first. Always follow the DRSABCD protocol, and don’t hesitate to call emergency services at triple zero (000) for assistance.
By taking prompt and correct actions when someone’s life is on the line, you become a crucial link in the chain of survival. Your ability to administer CPR can make a significant difference, increasing the chances of a positive outcome in a critical moment. We hope this guide empowers you to act confidently and with compassion, knowing that your preparedness can save lives.
