CPR – Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

What is CPR?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR involves pushing hard and fast in the centre of a person’s chest to help keep blood and oxygen circulating to the brain and other organs of a person whose heart has stopped beating. By keeping blood moving, we are helping to keep them alive until an ambulance service arrives.

CPR is a skill that everyone can learn — you don’t need to be a health professional to do it.

CPR alone does not restore a normal heart rhythm. But by making sure vital organs have a supply of oxygen, it does help keep the heart in a state where the AED has a greater chance of being able to do its job.

Remember: Any attempt is better than none.

Why is CPR important?

When someone’s heart stops, CPR helps keep them alive.

It works by manually compressing the heart to push blood around the body, so the brain and other organs still receive oxygen.

CPR also helps keep the heart in a better state so when an AED is used, it’s more likely to work.

Every second counts.

What are the types of CPR?

There are two main types of CPR:

Hands-only CPR

• Just chest compressions. No mouth-to-mouth.
• Easy to learn. Safe to do.

CPR with breaths

• 30 chest compressions plus 2 rescue breaths.
• Often used by trained responders.
• Also easy to learn and safe to do.

When performing CPR, you don’t have to provide breaths if you don’t want to or are unable to.

Both types of CPR help keep blood and oxygen flowing when the heart stops and could double the person’s survival rates.

Both can save lives.

How to perform CPR

For an adult

If someone isn’t waking up or breathing normally, immediately call Triple Zero (000), they will guide you through how to perform CPR

• Lay them flat on a firm surface (like the floor) on their back.
• Kneel beside them.
• Look, listen and feel for breathing by bringing your ear to their mouth, and watching their chest to see if it rises and falls.
• Check their mouth. If something’s blocking it, roll them on their side and gently clear it, if possible.
• Place one hand in the centre of their chest, in line with their under arm.
• Put your other hand on top and lock your fingers together or hold on to your wrist.
• Keep your elbows straight, have your shoulders right above your hands and push hard and fast.
• Use your body weight to press down – not just your arms.
• Let the chest rise fully after each push.
• Push twice every second (about 100–120 times a minute).
• As instructed by Triple Zero (000) or if you know how to give breaths:
• Do 30 pushes, then 2 breaths.
• Tilt their head back and blow into their mouth.
• Watch for the chest to rise.

Remember: Any attempt is better than none.

For children and infants

When it comes to chest compressions, the process is the same between adults, children and infants. The difference comes in how you position your hands and apply pressure during CPR.

Children (1-8 years old, approximately):

• Use one hand to press on the centre of the chest.
• Push hard and fast at about 100–120 compressions per minute.
• Aim to press down about one-third of the chest depth.
• Give breaths as instructed by Triple Zero (000) or if you know how to give breaths

Infants (2 - 12 months)

• Find the centre of your infant's chest, around the lower half of their breastbone
• Using two fingers push your infant's chest down by about one-third of its depth, at a fast pace of around 100-120 compressions per minute
• Give breaths as instructed by Triple Zero (000) or if you know how to give breaths

Newborns (Birth – 2 months)

• Use two thumbs on the lower third of the breastbone.
• Place your thumbs side by side or one on top of the other, whichever fits the baby best.
• Wrap your fingers around the chest to support the back.
• Press down about one third of the depth of the chest, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Give breaths as instructed by Triple Zero (000) or if you know how to give breaths

Remember: The Triple Zero call taker will be on the line to help guide you every step of the way.

Learning how to do CPR

You don’t need a certificate to do CPR. You just need to know what to do and feel confident enough to step in.

• Non-accredited training helps with that. It teaches you the basics and gives you the confidence to act in an emergency. You won’t get a certificate, but you’ll know how to help.
• Accredited CPR training gives you official certification that you renew every year. It’s run by registered training organisations and may be needed for work or volunteering. It’s a paid course, and some workplaces cover the cost.

Remember: You don’t need to be certified to save a life. Any attempt is better than none.