Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen to Do CPRBefore StartingHow to Do CPRRescue BreathingUsing an AEDHow to Get Certified
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
When to Do CPR
Before Starting
How to Do CPR
Rescue Breathing
Using an AED
How to Get Certified
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) is a hands-on emergency intervention used to restore heartbeats and breathing in someone who has gone intocardiac arrest.Common causes of cardiac arrest are a heart attack or near-drowning.
CPR involves manual chest compressions and, in some cases, rescue (“mouth-to-mouth”) breathing. If available, a device called anautomated external defibrillator (AED)may be used to restart the heart. These interventions can keep blood flowing to the brain until emergency medical assistance arrives.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used on someone with cardiac arrest. This is when the heart stops beating, causing the person to collapse, lose consciousness, and stop breathing.
By applying external pressure on the chest, you can manually pump the heart and keep blood flowing until emergency help arrives. CPR can be performed on people of any age.
CPR is needed when a person has the four signs of cardiac arrest:
Performing CPR on someone with cardiac arrest doubles or triples their chances of survival.
AHA Issues New Guidelines for Performing CPR During Pandemic
What to Do Before Performing CPR
Before starting CPR:
All of these tasks can be performed in less than a minute.
Why a Rapid Response Is NeededA rapid response is needed as permanent brain damage can occur after only four minutes without oxygen. Death can occur as soon as four to six minutes later.
Why a Rapid Response Is Needed
A rapid response is needed as permanent brain damage can occur after only four minutes without oxygen. Death can occur as soon as four to six minutes later.
CPR procedures vary based on the age of the victim as well as the training of the person performing CPR. According to the American Heart Association:
Why the CPR Guidelines Changed
CPR in Adults and Older Children
The following steps apply to adults and children over 8 years old:
Continue until emergency medical help arrives or the person revives.
CPR for Children 1 to 8 Years
The procedure for giving CPR to a child is essentially the same as that for an adult.
Continue until emergency medical help arrives or the child revives.
CPR for Infants
Continue until emergency medical help arrives or the infant revives.
If you are skilled in CPR, adding rescue breaths ensures that the person’s blood is oxygenated and the blood flow is sufficient. If you are not skilled and end up doing one or both procedures insufficiently, you may put the person at risk.
Rescue Breaths for Adults And Children
Rescue breathing is performed as follows:
If their chest does not rise, tilt their head back a little further and try again.
Rescue Breaths for Infants
Rescue breathing is slightly different for infants:
How to Perform Rescue Breathing
Automatic external defibrillators (AEDS) are used to restart a stopped heart with a strong pulse of electricity. Using an AED within the first three to five minutes of cardiac arrest dramatically increases the survival rate.
AEDs are frequently installed in public facilities in the event someone experiences cardiac arrest. In such situations, there should be someone in the facility trained in CPR and AED use.
While an AED is relatively easy to use, there are many different models, and the American Heart Association advises that only people formally trained in CPR and AED use them.
Children over 8 years can be treated with a standard AED. Children age 1 to 8 years require special defibrillator pads.
AEDs are not used on children under 1 year of age or on someone with a pulse.
How to Get Certified in CPR
Classes are typically completed in two hours, depending on which format you choose (online or in-person). Once you have completed the class, you will be given a certificate.
Not every CPR class is the same. There are CPR classes for healthcare professionals as well as CPR classes for the layperson. Before you take a CPR class, make sure the class is right for you.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.What is CPR?
American Heart Association.Causes of cardiac arrest.
MedlinePlus.CPR - adult and child after onset of puberty.
American Red Cross.CPR steps.
Merchant RM, Topjian AA, Panchal AR, et al; on behalf of the Adult Basic and Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Basic and Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Life Support, Resuscitation Education Science, and Systems of Care Writing Groups.Part 1: executive summary: 2020 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.Circulation. 2020;142(suppl 2):S337–S357. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000918
MedlinePlus.CPR - infant.
American Heart Association.AED programs Q&A.
American Red Cross.CPR classes.
American Red Cross.CPR certification.
Kleinman ME, Brennan EE, Goldberger ZD, et al.Part 5: Adult basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation quality: 2015 American Heart Association guidelines update for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care.Circulation. 2015;132(18 Suppl 2):S414-35. doi:10.1161/cir.0000000000000259
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
