Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) involves a combination of mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and chest compression. CPR keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs until appropriate medical treatment can restore a normal heart rhythm.

-Breathing. Mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing is the quickest way to get oxygen into a person's lungs. However, if you're not trained in emergency procedures, doctors recommend skipping mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and proceeding directly to chest compression. The reason is that if you're distracted by trying to perform unfamiliar breathing techniques, valuable lifesaving minutes might be lost for the person who needs help. The most important thing you can do is to proceed directly to chest compression to move blood to vital organs, particularly the brain and heart. If you're trained in emergency procedures, it's important to do both mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing and chest compression.

-Chest compression . Chest compressions replace the heartbeat when it has stopped. Compressions help maintain some blood flow to the brain, lungs and heart. You must perform rescue breathing anytime you perform chest compressions.

Before starting CPR, assess the situation:

-Is the person conscious or unconscious?

-If the person appears unconscious, tap or shake his or her shoulder and ask loudly, "Are you OK?"

-If the person doesn't respond, follow the steps below and get help by dialing 911 or calling for emergency medical assistance. If you can't leave the scene, have someone else call.

To perform CPR:

1Position the person so you can check for signs of life by laying the person flat on their back on a firm surface and extending the neck.

2Open the person's mouth and airway by lifting the chin forward.

3Determine whether the person is breathing by simultaneously listening for breath sounds, feeling for air motion on your cheek and ear, and looking for chest motion.

4If the person is not breathing, pinch his or her nostrils closed, make a seal around the mouth and breathe into his or her mouth twice. Give one breath every five seconds — 12 breaths each minute — and completely refill your lungs after each breath.

5If there are no signs of life — no response, movement or breathing — begin chest compressions. Place your hands over the lower part of the breastbone, keep your elbows straight and position your shoulders directly above your hands to make the best use of your weight.

Push down 1 1/2 to 2 inches at a rate of 80 to 100 times a minute. The pushing down and letting up phase of each cycle should be equal in duration. Don't jab down and relax. After 15 compressions, breathe into the person's mouth twice.

After every four cycles of 15 compressions and two breaths, recheck for signs of life. Continue the rescue maneuvers as long as there are no signs of life.

To perform CPR on a baby:

-Cover the mouth and nose with your mouth.

-Give one breath for every five chest compressions.

-Compress the chest 1/2 to 1 inch at least 100 times a minute, using only two fingers.

The above is just a brief description of CPR. To learn CPR, take a first-aid training course. Many organizations, such as the Red Cross and the American Heart Association, sponsor such courses.