Notice Signs of Life
You should stop giving CPR to a victim if you experience signs of life. If the patient opens their eyes, makes a movement, sound, or starts breathing, you should stop giving compression. However, when you stop and the patient becomes uncurious again, you should resume CPR.
Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).
Every 2 minutes of CPR, check for a pulse. Attach an AED as soon as it becomes available; it is best to wait for the natural pause between cycles of CPR while breaths are being delivered.
If the victim is not breathing, coughing, or doesn't show any movement, CPR is needed to increase the chance of survival. However, if the victim is breathing normally and has a pulse, put them in a recovery position and wait for the emergency medical team.
If a nonshockable rhythm is present, and the rhythm is organized, check for a pulse. Make sure the pause in chest compressions to check the rhythm is not more than 10 seconds.
The average time to complete five cycles of CPR is approximately 2 min for newly trained BLS/AED providers and the majority of the participants found it easier to perform five cycles.
If they do have a pulse but aren't breathing, give them CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until help arrives. CPR chest compressions are important because they provide oxygenated blood flow to all parts of the body and keep organs alive until medical personnel arrive on scene.
Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths. Use an AED as soon as one is available! Minimize interruptions to chest compressions to less than 10 seconds.
Once you begin CPR, do not stop except in one of these situations: You see an obvious sign of life, such as breathing. An AED is available and ready to use. Another trained responder or EMS personnel take over.
CPR may be terminated by ALS and BLS personnel when: A patient has in his or her possession (or at the bedside) a completed, legal Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)
Do not delay CPR for pulse or rhythm check. Do not delay CPR for pulse or rhythm check. After 2 minutes of CPR, analyze rhythm. Do not check pulse before analyzing rhythm.
Q: When do I stop giving Hands-Only CPR? A: Continue pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives. If the person speaks, moves, or breathes normally while you're giving chest compressions, Hands-Only CPR can be stopped.
[2] The goal of precordial thump is to restore organized electrical cardiac activity and convert the patient from ventricular tachycardia to a more stable and organized rhythm.
The physicians and scientists at the Sarver Heart Center, have found that the old saying "Never perform CPR on beating heart" is not valid. According to these professionals, the chances that a bystander could harm a person by pressing on their chest are slim to none, even if the heart is working normally.
If someone is breathing normally, you usually do not need to perform CPR. Oxygen is still getting to the brain and the heart is obviously functioning for the time being. In this case, call 911 and wait. Keep an eye on the person to note any changes and to start CPR if their condition worsens.
Emergency medical services professionals may give five cycles of CPR before attempting defibrillation to treat out‐of‐hospital cardiopulmonary arrest or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. CPR should be continued until the patient has achieved spontaneous circulation or until advanced life support can be administered.
Two-person CPR for the adult victim will be 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Two-person CPR ratio for the child and infant will be 15 compressions to 2 breaths.
After every 30 chest compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. Tilt the person's head gently and lift the chin up with 2 fingers. Pinch the person's nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth for about 1 second.
If an AED is immediately accessible, get the AED and use it right away. However, in all likelihood, there will not be an AED close enough and CPR should be started first. If there is only one person present, that person should start CPR right away and continue until first responders arrive.
If the person does not have a pulse, begin CPR if you are trained to do so. If you are alone, not trained in CPR, and a phone is nearby, call 911.
Rhythms that are not amenable to shock include pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and asystole. In these cases, identifying primary causation, performing good CPR, and administering epinephrine are the only tools you have to resuscitate the patient.