How To Administer CPR

Knowing how to administer CPR can help save the life of someone you know or love. There are many classes available in your community that can teach you the finer points of cardiopulmonary pulse resuscitation (CPR). This guide merely illustrates how easy it will be for you to learn this valuable skill.

1. Assess the situation. Before you administer CPR, first, check to see if the person can respond to either your voice or some mild shaking. Sometimes after an episode of cardiac arrest, a person may make snoring or choking sounds. Do not confuse this with sleeping sounds or normal breathing. If possible, have someone call 911 or call them yourself. The 911 operators can also assist you in giving CPR.
2. Breathing. You need to know if the person if is breathing. To do this, simply tilt the head back, check for any obstructions and listen for breathing. If you cannot detect any breath, pinch the person’s nose with your fingers and take a deep breath. Completely cover the person’s mouth with your own mouth and blow until you see their chest rise. This should take one second. Give two breaths.
3. Chest pumps. If the person does not become responsive and is still not breathing normally, it is time to begin chest pumps. Get on your knees by the side of the person. Place one palm between the person’s nipples and cover this with your other palm. While counting out loud, push down 30 times. You should push the chest down between one and half to two inches. Take less than one second between pushes.
4. Repeat. Now give two more breaths followed by 30 more pumps. Repeat this until the person becomes responsive or the paramedics arrive.