CPR stands for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. It is a procedure that has save a thousand lives. Knowing CPR can always mean the difference between life and death most especially in heart attack and cardiac arrest victims as well as drowning and other life threatening emergencies.

When to START CPR?
CPR is given when the three conditions are present:
The patient is unresponsive
The patient has no breathing
The patient has no pulse
What are the STEPS in CPR

Before starting CPR, insure that the scene is safe!

- Determine Unresponsiveness – this is done by tapping the victims shoulder or chin and shouting “ Hey are you okay? Are you alright?

- If the victim does not respond, call for help or activate the Emergency Medical Services
- Open the airway simply tilt the head using one hand on the forehead and two fingers on the chin.

- Check for breathing – place your ear near the patient’s mouth and nose and listen and feel for air. Observe the chest for rise and fall or movement. Absence of this signs indicates that there is no breathing.

- Give two initial breaths – blow air into the patient’s mouth a least twice at 2 seconds each. Make sure you pinch the nose as you blow, this will insure that the air will go to the lungs. Release the nose after each blow to allow exhalation

- Check for pulse or signs of life – Feel the pulse on the carotid artery (neck area). Or check for signs of life like eye opening, coughing, movement.

- Begin chest compression – if the pulse is absent, begin chest compression. Place one hand over the other hand and place it at the center of the chest. Give 30 compressions.
- After providing 30 compressions, give two blows.

Perform 5 cycles of 30 chest compression and 2 blow for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, check for the pulse, if the pulse is absent, continue CPR for another 2 minutes giving 5 cycles of chest compression and 2 breaths. If the pulse is present, check the breathing. If no breathing, provide only mouth to mouth resuscitation.

For a complete guideline Visit my CPR HUBPAGE and learn CPR.

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