As outlined by The American National

Red Cross (2001)

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is

defined as chest compressions and

rescue oriented breathing to take over

the normal functions of the heart and

lungs.

› Cardia: Heart

› Pulmonary: Lung

› Resuscitation: regaining life functions

*The American National Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is needed when a victim or patient has gone into cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest is characterized by:

No heart beat or a very irregular/weak heart beat.Circulation of blood to

the vital organs ceases or is not adequate to sustain life sustaining functions.No heartbeat results in lost of the function of breathing.

Clinical death results when there is no heartbeat present and breathing has stopped.

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Source: http://www.circulation.or.kr/info/case/case_32_s_2.jpg

Source: http://meds.queensu.ca/courses/assets/modules/ts-ecg/Normal_ECG.bmp

Irregular, Weak Heartbeat

Source: http://ems12lead.com/files/2010/12/2010_12_19_Awm.jpg

Normal Heartbeat

No Heartbeat

Signs of Cardiac

Arrest

› No Breathing

› No pulse

› No signs of

movement

› No response to

stimuli

Terms and Devices

› Biological death:

brain cell death

after 4 to 6 minutes

of going without

oxygen

› Defibrillator: a

device to regain

heart beat through

electric shock

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

The Person giving CPR must establish the proper hand

position.

Proper position of the rescuer and victim should be

established.

Avoiding the Xiphiod process (a boney point at the

bottom of chest bone) chest

compressions should begin.

Two Slow Breaths will be

administered per 30 compressions.

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

• Position yourself over the victim.

• Kneeling at the victims chest.

• After checking for Cardiac Arrest (no breathing,

unconscious, no pulse), open the airway of the

victim.

• There are two ways to do this:

o Head/tilt, chin/lift (top right)

o Jaw Thrust (bottom right)

• After opening the airway, the first two rescue

breaths can be given. These must be done in

the proper way with the proper technique.

Source: http://www.sutree.com/upload/thumbnails/28565.gif

Source: http://charlydmiller.com/RA/images03/jawthrust.jpg

Tec

hn

iqu

eSp

ec

ial C

on

sid

era

tio

ns

Pinch the nose of the victim with the thumb and index finger and only use enough pressure to seal the nostrils.

Position your mouth over the mouth of the victim and make a tight seal.› If available use a resuscitation mask (mask for

CPR, used to protect against disease transmission).

Slowly give two breaths (2 seconds each).

The victims chest should rise and fall.

Pay attention to any injuries to assure that you will not harm the victim.

Check for presence of air in the stomach, vomiting, dentures or other mouth devices.

If the chest does not rise and fall, reposition head.

The air you breath into the victim is only 16% oxygen, but this is enough to keep someone alive.

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

If the breaths go in (you see the chest rise and fall) check for a pulse.

To check for a pulse, place fingers over an artery in the neck next to the “Adam’s Apple.”› A beat or thud is a pulse.

If there is no pulse, continue to step two.

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Source: http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/pulse.jpg

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

After giving the first two rescue breaths, and checking the pulse: if no pulse is evident, start chest

compressions.

The position of the hands is crucial in ensuring the safety

of the victim.

Tip

Count out loud during chest compressions to keep

track and pace yourself

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Find the lower edge of the rib cage, find where the ribs meet the chest bone (sternum), avoid pressing down on the xiphoid process.

Place your dominate hand on the center of the victims chest, place your other hand over the dominant hand, interlock the fingers of both hands.

Using the heel of your hand, keep your elbows straight and apply pressure to the chest. This will be done thirty times per cycle.

Each compression should compress the chest by 1 ⅟2 “ to 2”.

Each Chest compression should depress the chest by 1 ½” to 2” (left). Avoid the Xiphoid Process (right).

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Source: http://www.cc.utah.edu/~mda9899/Image18.gif

Source: http://images.brighthub.com/fd/f/fdf9580d330b7f3c567ee33dff5ab42f4157db37_small.jpg

Give two rescue breaths

Do thirty Chest

Compressions

Repeat four times (about one minute)

Check pulse and breathing

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

To continue:

› If no signs of

breathing or pulse are

evident.

Not to Continue:

› The victim regains a

pulse and beings

breathing.

› A defibrillator

becomes available

Someone trained to

use it is present as well.

› If you can no longer

continue due to

exhaustion or other

physical constraints.

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Continue rescue breathing when only pulse is present (no chest compressions).

If the victim regains a pulse but is not breathing, stop CPR.

*American Red Cross: Emergency Response (2001)

Participating in this presentation will in no way legally certify anyone to administer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in any

state of the US.

Use of these techniques, without being certified by a

state agency could result in legal action.

This demonstration was based on adult CPR, not child or infant

CPR. Any use of these methods on a child or infant can cause

serious injury or death.

If you are in a situation where you think someone is in need of

CPR, call 9-1-1 immediately. Proceed with caution to aid the

victim.

If you want to become certified, go to:

http://www.redcross.org/en/takeaclass