How to Perform CPR

How to perform on Adults

1) Determine if the surrounding scene is safe

2)Determine if the injured person is breathing

3) Position the injured person on his or her back, being extremely careful not to move or twist the head, neck or spine. If other people are around ask for assistance.

4)Maintain an open airway while you pinch the injured person's nose shut.

5)Give two long, slow breaths, being sure to maintain a seal between your mouth and his or hers.

6)Check again for breathing and pulse

7)Position the hands: find the lower tip of the breastbone. Measure two finger widths towards the head, and place the heel of one hand in this location

8)Place your other hand on top of the first hand, interlacing your fingers of both hands.

9)Push downward on the chest, using the weight of your upper body for strength. Compress 15 times in 10 seconds.

10) Give two more slow breaths after the 15 compressions.

11)Do 15 more compressions followed again by two slow breaths

12)Perform the 15-compression, two-breath cycle a total of four times

13)Re-check pulse and breathing.

How to perform on Dogs

1) Check the dog's airway. To see if your dog is breathing, tap him on his body or call his name. If he does not respond, look to see if his chest is moving. If his chest isn't moving, listen to see if you can hear him breathing. If no breath can be seen or heard, put the back of your hand near the dog's nose to see if you can feel him breathing.

2)Pull the tongue out just a little to clear his airway and close his mouth if your dog is not breathing. Tilt his head back to make sure the airway is open and begin mouth to snout breathing. Place your mouth over his nose and administer four to five breaths.

3)Check for circulation. If your dog has circulation, she will have a pulse. Check for circulation by pressing on the femoral pulse. This is located on the inside of the rear leg towards the top.

4)Be aware that if your dog is not breathing and does not have a pulse, it is time to begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

5)Place the dog on a flat, hard surface right side down. If the dog is on the ground, place his spine against your knees.

6)Bend the dog's left front leg at the elbow. Where the elbow touches the body is equivalent to where you should place your hands to begin compressions. This is approximately between the fourth and sixth rib, one-third of the way up the chest from the sternum.

7)Lock your hands in a classic CPR position which is one hand on top the other with fingers together. Lock your elbows.

8)Begin performing compressions by pushing two to three inches deep

9)Give compressions then breaths

10)Check for a pulse after one minute and repeat if needed.

How to perform on Infants

1) Assess the situation quickly. - If your baby is suddenly unable to cry or cough, something may be blocking her airway, and you'll need to help her get it out. She may make odd noises or no sound at all while opening her mouth, and her skin may turn bright red or blue.If she's coughing or gagging, her airway is only partially blocked. In this case, let her continue to cough. Coughing is the most effective way to dislodge a blockage.

2) Try to dislodge the object with back blows and chest thrusts. - If your baby can't clear her airway on her own and you believe something is trapped there, carefully position her facedown on your forearm with your hand supporting her head and neck. Rest the arm holding your baby on your thigh.Support your baby so that her head is lower than the rest of her body. Then, using the heel of your hand, give her five firm and distinct back blows between her shoulder blades to try to dislodge the object. Next, place your free hand (the one that had been delivering the back blows) on the back of your baby's head with your arm along her spine. Carefully turn her over while supporting her head and neck. Support your baby faceup with your forearm resting on your thigh, still keeping her head lower than the rest of her body. Place the pads of two or three fingers just below an imaginary line running between your baby's nipples. To give a chest thrust, push straight down on the chest 1/2 inch to 1 inch, then allow the chest to come back to its normal position.Give five chest thrusts. The chest thrusts should be smooth, not jerky. Continue the sequence of five back blows and five chest thrusts until the object is forced out or your baby starts to cough. If she's coughing, let her try to cough up the object.If your baby becomes unconscious at any time, she'll need modified CPR Give her two rescue breaths. If the air doesn't go in (you don't see her chest rise), retilt her head and try two rescue breaths again. If her chest still doesn't rise, give her 30 chest compressions. Look in her mouth and remove the object if you see it.

Modified CPR

1) Check your baby's condition. - Is your baby conscious? Flick her foot or gently tap on her shoulder and call out.Swiftly but gently place your baby on her back on a firm surface.

2) Open your baby's airway. Tilt your baby's head back with one hand and lift her chin slightly with the other. You don't need to tilt an infant's head back very far to open her airway. Check for signs of life movement and breathing for no more than ten seconds. To check for your baby's breath, put your head down next to her mouth, looking toward her feet. Look to see whether her chest is rising and listen for breathing sounds. If she's breathing, you should be able to feel her breath on your cheek.

3)Give her two gentle breaths - If your baby isn't breathing, give her two little breaths, each lasting just one second. Cover your baby's nose and mouth with your mouth and gently exhale into her lungs only until you see her chest rise.Remember that a baby's lungs are much smaller than yours, so it takes much less than a full breath to fill them. Breathing too hard or too fast can force air into the infant's stomach or damage her lungs. If her chest doesn't rise, her airway is blocked. Give her first aid for choking, above.If the breaths go in, give your baby two breaths in a row, pausing between rescue breaths to let the air flow back out.

4) Give her 30 chest compressions. - With your baby still lying on her back, place the pads of two or three fingers just below an imaginary line running between your baby's nipples. With the pads of these fingers on that spot, compress the chest 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Push straight down. Compressions should be smooth, not jerky.

5)Repeat compressions and breaths. - Repeat the cycle of 30 compressions and two breaths.