Page 173 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

FIRST AID 171

CPR – Chest compressions

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is used to resuscitate an unconscious victim who has no signs of
circulation, such as coughing, breathing, or movement. If the heart stops beating, blood does not circulate
through the body, and vital organs, including the brain, are starved of oxygen. You can maintain some
circulation artificially using chest compressions, which help the heart to push blood around the body. Chest
compressions are always combined with rescue breathing to ensure that the blood is supplied with oxygen.

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Chest compressions (adults) Remove the first hand
The technique combines rescue breaths (see opposite page) and rest its heel on
and chest compressions to simulate circulation. 3 top of the hand that
is in position for chest
Call 911. Kneel beside the victim. Place the
middle and index fingers of one hand on the compressions. Lock the
1 notch at the bottom of his or her breastbone. fingers of both hands
together firmly.
Position your hand
at the bottom of Lean over the victim with
the breastbone your arms straight. Press
4 down vertically on the
breastbone, depressing the
1
chest by about 1 ⁄2–2 in
(4–5 cm). Release the
pressure but don’t move your
Place the heel of hands. Give 15 compressions
your other hand on at a rate of 100 per minute;
2 the breastbone next then give 2 rescue breaths.
to your fingers. This Do cycles of 15 compressions
is the point where and 2 rescue breaths until
you will apply chest help arrives or the
compressions. victim takes
a spontaneous
breath or makes
a movement.

Chest compressions (babies) Chest compressions (children)
● For a baby under ● For a child aged
1 year old, place 2 1–7 years, place the
fingers just below an heel of one hand on
imaginary line the lower breastbone
between the nipples and use cycles of
and use cycles of 5 5 compressions to
chest compressions to 1 rescue breath.
1 rescue breath.
Keep your arm
Press down firmly straight during
and rhythmically each compression