Last Updated on: October 15, 2024
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CPR is a life-saving technique that will help you act swiftly and make all the difference in an emergency. According to recent research, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year. More importantly, 4 out of 5 such incidents happen at home.
Nearly 46% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims receive CPR before professional assistance arrives. Therefore, learning the steps for CPR is incredibly important, as it can help you save the life of a loved one in a medical emergency. In this blog, we will walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to perform this life-saving technique at home.
CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, an emergency procedure that can save a person’s life if their breathing stops. Several reasons can cause the sudden malfunction of the heart, requiring immediate resuscitation. When such individuals do not receive help from certified individuals before the medical team arrives, the situation might lead to severe health hazards.
Performing CPR keeps the blood active and increases the chances of survival for many patients. Here’s a brief overview of the role of CPR through several mechanisms.
CPR can be performed by anyone, including healthcare and non-healthcare professionals. You just need to understand the steps involved. The primary goal of CPR training is to resuscitate the victim and maintain blood flow until the emergency medical team arrives. Here are the simple 10 steps for CPR to perform at home.
Before you approach the victim, ensure the area is safe for you and the victim. Look for any potential dangers, such as fire or hazardous materials, before you begin to help them.
Once you approach the victim, it is important to know whether they need CPR. Tap the victim’s shoulder and ask loudly, “Are you okay?” Look for any signs of responsiveness, like groaning, movement, or opening their eyes. If the person responds when you touch or talk to them, ensure they can explain the situation.
Even if you perform the steps of CPR, the victim might still need to be taken to the hospital by ambulance for professional medical assistance. If you cannot succeed in performing CPR, the paramedics may be able to resuscitate the victim using advanced medical equipment such as an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Therefore, it is always best to call emergency services right away if you find a victim in a confused state or unable to speak. In some instances, the paramedics will talk you through performing CPR on the phone until they can take over.
Before you start performing the CPR steps, lay the victim on a firm, flat surface. Position yourself by kneeling beside them. This will allow you to deliver proper chest compressions and ensure the victim’s stability during the procedure.
While the victim is lying on their back, tilt their head back gently and lift their chin. This helps open their airway by removing any blockages in the nose and mouth, including blood, vomit, or loose teeth.
Remove any clothing or accessories covering the victim’s chest to expose their bare skin. This is important for the proper placement of hands or equipment during chest compressions to ensure effective delivery of rescue breaths if required.
Once the victim is lying on their back on a firm surface, place the heel of your hand on the center of their chest. Place the other hand on top of the first one, putting your weight directly over your hands.
Performing chest compressions allows blood to circulate through the brain, helping to keep the victim’s brain working until the heart restores its normal function. Lean forward and ensure your shoulders are directly aligned with the victim’s chest. Press down on the chest about two inches, then release the pressure gently. Let the victim’s chest completely rise before each compression. Remember to give 30 compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute.
Rescue breathing is a crucial CPR technique that requires you to use your own breath to fill the victim’s lungs with air, helping restore their ability to breathe on their own. While performing this step, tilt the victim’s head back, pinch their nose, and place your mouth over the victim’s mouth to create a seal. Blow air continuously until you see their chest rise. After the chest rises, blow a second breath and continue with the compressions.
As the last step in how to do CPR, continue the cycles of chest compressions and rescue breathing until the victim begins to show signs of life. Once they regain consciousness or start breathing, wait for the emergency medical services to provide professional assistance.
Read More: CPR Compression Rate: The Importance of Maintaining the Correct Compression Rate during CPR
Before learning CPR, ensure that the scenario is safe for both the rescuer and the victim. CPR training empowers you to intervene in emergency situations safely, potentially saving lives. Here is a list of things to keep in mind before beginning CPR:
Now that you have explored what are the steps for CPR, it’s time to learn about the types of CPR techniques. Several types of CPR techniques are tailored to suit different emergency situations and rescuer training levels. Let’s explore them briefly.
Standard CPR, or Traditional CPR, is the most comprehensive CPR technique designed for training individuals. This type of CPR involves repeated cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths, typically in a ratio of 30:2. It is commonly preferred when both compressions and breaths must be performed simultaneously.
Hands-only CPR, or compression-only CPR, is a simplified form of CPR suitable for laypersons with no prior professional CPR training. The technique solely focuses on providing uninterrupted chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute. It is quick to learn and easy to remember, eliminating hesitation in bystanders to learn how to perform CPR during cardiac emergencies.
Pediatric CPR is specially designed for infants and children. Due to the chest size and delicate anatomy of younger individuals, this method of child CPR is different from adult CPR in terms of hand position, compression depth, and rescue breath technique.
Infant CPR is a specialized life-saving technique for newborns and young infants. This type of CPR involves using only two or three fingers for chest compressions and modified rescue breaths due to the extremely small size of the infant’s airway and chest.
Advanced CPR is suitable for medical professionals in clinical settings. This method involves specific devices like bag-valve masks for ventilation and medications to improve blood circulation in victims. For instance, it includes Interposed Abdominal CPR (IAC-CPR) and open chest CPR, which require advanced training to perform swiftly in specific situations.
Read More: What are the different levels of CPR certification training?
CPR is a life-saving technique that can help increase the survival rate of a person who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped functioning. Performing steps for CPR can be daunting, but learning it properly can empower you to save a life. Even though you learn CPR, remember to call for emergency medical services immediately. With proper guidance and training, you can be confident in your ability to handle any emergency situation that comes your way.
