CPR for adults

When the heart stops, the brain begins to suffer damage within minutes. CPR keeps some blood circulating until an AED or paramedics arrive. Imperfect CPR is far better than none.

Hands-only CPR (if you have no training)

1. Call 911 (or ask someone to call) and have them bring an AED.
2. Lay the person on their back on a firm, flat surface (the floor, not the bed).
3. Kneel beside them. Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of the breastbone, between the nipples) and the other hand on top, fingers interlaced and lifted.
4. Shoulders directly over your hands, elbows locked. Push with your body weight, not your arms.
5. Compress hard and fast: at least 2 in (5 cm) deep, no more than about 2.4 in (6 cm), at 100–120 per minute. Reference rhythm: the song "Stayin' Alive."
6. Let the chest come all the way back up between compressions; do not lean on it.
7. Do not stop until the AED arrives, someone trained takes over, the person shows clear signs of life, or the scene becomes unsafe. If there is another person, take turns every 2 minutes so you do not lose strength.

CPR with rescue breaths (if you are trained)

1. 30 compressions as above.
2. Open the airway: tilt the head back and lift the chin.
3. 2 breaths: pinch the nose, seal your mouth over theirs (or use the mask), and blow for 1 second each time, watching for the chest to rise.
4. If the chest does not rise, tilt the head back again and try once more. If it still does not rise, there may be an object in the airway: continue with compressions and, before each breath attempt, look in the mouth and remove anything you see.
5. Repeat cycles of 30:2 with no pauses longer than 10 seconds.

AED (automated external defibrillator)

The AED analyzes the heart's rhythm and decides whether to deliver a shock. It cannot shock someone who does not need it. It is designed so that anyone can use it.

1. Turn it on and follow its voice instructions.
2. Bare the chest. Dry it if it is wet. Remove medication patches with a gloved hand. If there is a lot of hair and the pads will not stick, shave it quickly (many AEDs come with a razor).
3. Place the pads as the picture shows: one below the right collarbone and the other on the left side, below the armpit. If there is a pacemaker (a bump under the skin), do not put the pad on top of it.
4. "Clear!": no one should touch the person while the AED analyzes or shocks.
5. Resume compressions immediately after the shock (or if the AED says no shock is advised). The AED will analyze again every 2 minutes.