Three Parts of CPR contact with electricity before offering assistance, to

prevent becoming electrocuted yourself. (For instance,

The three basic parts of CPR are easily remembered as turn off the source of electricity, such as a light switch
"ABC": A for airway, B for breathing, and C for or a circuit breaker.)
circulation.
Once you know that you can safely approach someone who
needs help, quickly evaluate whether the person is
• A is for airway. The victim's airway must be
responsive. Look for things like eye opening, sounds from
open for breathing to be restored. The airway
the mouth, or other signs of life like movement of the
may be blocked when a child loses consciousness
arms and legs. In infants and younger children, rubbing
or may be obstructed by food or some other
the chest (over the breastbone) can help determine if
foreign object. In a CPR course, participants
there is any level of responsiveness. In older children and
learn how to open the airway and position the
adults, this can also be done by gently shaking the
child so the airway is ready for rescue
shoulders and asking if they're all right.
breathing. The course will include what to do to
clear the airway if you believe an infant or child
has choked and the airway is blocked. The next step is to check if the victim is breathing. You
• B is for breathing. Rescue breathing is begun can determine this by watching the person's chest for
when a child isn't breathing. Someone the rise and fall of breaths and listening for the sound of
performing rescue breathing essentially air going in and out of the lungs. In a CPR or basic life
breathes for the victim by forcing air into the support (BLS) course, participants practice techniques
lungs. This procedure includes breathing into for determining if breathing or circulation is adequate. If
the victim's mouth at correct intervals and you can't determine whether someone is breathing, you
checking for signs of life. A CPR course will should begin CPR and continue until help arrives.
review correct techniques and procedures for
rescuers to position themselves to give mouth- Whenever CPR is needed, remember to call for
to-mouth resuscitation to infants, children, and emergency medical assistance. Current CPR courses teach
adults. you that if you are alone with an unresponsive infant or
• C is for circulation. Chest compressions can child, give chest compressions for 5 cycles (about 2
sometimes restore circulation. Two rescue minutes) before calling for help.
breaths should be provided and followed
immediately by cycles of 30 chest compressions ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
and 2 rescue breaths. It is not necessary to
check for signs of circulation to perform this
technique. This procedure involves pushing on
the chest to help circulate blood and maintain
Performing CPR on an Adult
blood flow to major organs. A CPR course will
teach you how to perform chest compressions in
infants, children, and adults and how to • Remember the basic steps of CPR as the ABCs
coordinate the compressions with rescue of CPR: A for airway, B for breathing, and C for
breathing. circulation.

Step 1. Clear the Airway

When Is CPR Needed? 1. The first letter, A, is for clearing the airway.
The person should be lying on their back on a
CPR is most successful when administered as quickly as firm surface.
possible, but you must first determine if it's necessary. 2. Look into the victim's mouth and check for a
It should only be performed when a person isn't foreign object obstructing the person's airway,
breathing or circulating blood adequately. and, if necessary, use your finger to sweep the
object out.

First, determine that it's safe to approach the person in 3. Kneeling next to their neck and shoulders, open
trouble. For instance, if someone was injured in an the airway by placing your palm on their
accident on a busy highway, you'd have to be extremely forehead to carefully tilt their head back, and
careful about ongoing traffic as you try to help. Or if lifting their chin gently forward with your
someone touched an exposed wire and was electrocuted, other hand.
you'd have to be certain that he or she is no longer in
 4. Determine if the person is breathing normally Chest compressions. (Creative Commons photo by Shad
by listening for breath sounds, watching for the Bolling)
chest to rise and fall, and feeling for the
person's breath on your ear. 1. The third letter in the ABCs of CPR stands for
o Do not spend more than 10 seconds circulation. Restore the victim's blood
waiting for breath, and remember circulation with chest compressions.
that gasping for air is not considered o Begin by putting the heel of your hand
normal breathing. on the center of the person's chest
between their nipples.
Step 2. Breathe for the Victim 2. Then place your other hand on top of the first,
being sure to keep your elbows straight and
1. B is for breathing. If the person isn't breathing position your shoulders directly above your
normally, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing hands.
unless you have reason to believe that the o Push straight down on the victim's
victim has suffered a heart attack, in which chest using your upper body weight,
case you should proceed directly to chest not just your arms. Push down hard
compressions. and push fast—compressing the chest
two inches (approximately five
2. To begin mouth-to-mouth breathing, pinch the
centimeters).
victim's nostrils shut and cover the person's
mouth with your own.
o Give two compressions per second, or
about 120 compressions per minute.
o Rescue breathing can be performed
either from mouth-to-mouth, or, if 3. Give 30 compressions, then repeat the head-
the mouth can't be opened, mouth-to- tilt, chin-lift maneuver again and give another
nose. two rescue breaths. This "30 compressions
3. Give one breath for one second, watching to see followed by two rescue breaths" is one cycle of
if the victim's chest rises. CPR.
o If it does, give a second rescue o If another person is available, you can
breath. alternate cycles or have one person
o If not, the airway may not be clear. perform chest compression and the
Repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift other perform rescue breathing.
maneuver before giving a second 4. After completing five cycles, if the victim is
breath. still not moving or showing other signs of life,
4. One of the most common complications apply an automatic external defibrillator (AED)
encountered when performing CPR is that the if it is available.
victim vomits. This may be caused by over- o Follow the prompts on the AED. The
inflating the victims lungs so that air is forced American Heart Association
into the stomach. If the victim vomits as you're recommends administering one shock,
performing CPR, turn their head to one side and then resuming CPR (beginning with
try to sweep out the vomit before continuing. chest compressions portion of the
cycle) for two more minutes before
administering a second shock.
Step 3. Restore Circulation with Chest Compressions
o A 911 operator may be able to help
you administer the AED if you are not
trained in its use.
o If no AED is available, continue the
CPR cycle. Repeat until the victim
begins to move or until help arrives.