Week 5 - Hands Only CPR

Hands Only CPR

Mouth to Mouth

Mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing has not posed a serious safety hazard for victims and rescuers; however some rescuers may fear the risk of infectious diseases and are reluctant to give mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths to strangers.                

To avoid the chance that the victim will not receive any care, compression-only or “Hands Only” CPR method can be considered in these situations:

• Rescuer is unwilling or unable to perform mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing.
• An untrained bystander is following dispatcher-assisted CPR instructions.
• Personal protective devices are unavailable. 

Hands Only CPR Cycle

HANDS ONLY: Bystanders who witness a sudden cardiac arrest and try CPR can skip the mouth-to-mouth breathing. The American Heart Association says doing chest compressions alone, or “Hands Only” CPR, until help arrives can be just as good as performing full mouth to mouth CPR.

WHO'S IT FOR? Any adult who collapses, stops breathing and is unresponsive. Children, infants and drowning victims still need mouth-to-mouth breaths. 

WHAT TO DO: First, call or have a bystander call 911.  Then press hard and fast, about 100-120 times per minute, on the middle of the victim's chest.  Continue care until EMS arrives, an AED becomes available or you are too tired to continue.  

***Conventional CPR is recommended for children and infants, however due to the asphyxial nature of most pediatric cardiac arrests, rescue breaths may not be possible.  In these instances, the hands only method is preferred to no CPR.  

Week 4 - Infant CPR

Assess

Assess the Scene

• Determine 
• If it is safe to help
• Number of victims
• if you will need additional assistance from EMS
• What personal protective devices are readily available to you

Assess the Victim

• Check the victim for responsiveness
• Tap on victim’s shoulder and shout “Are you okay?”
• Look at the victim’s chest and face
• Determine if the victim is breathing normally
• Agonal breathing is NOT normal breathing and needs care

Activate EMS

• Call 911 or direct a bystander to call 911 and return
• Caller should give dispatcher victim’s location, details of emergency situation including how many victims are injured and what treatment is occurring 
• Request AED machine, if available

Check Pulse

• Check for pulse (about 10 seconds) in the carotid artery in the neck
• If unable to locate a pulse, do not waste valuable time searching, immediately begin CPR

CPR Cycle

Perform cycles of 30 compressions (at a rate of 100-120 per minute) and then administer 2 rescue breaths

    Compression depth:

• Infant: At least 1/3 of the infant's body (approximately 1 1/2 inches)

     Position: 

• On the breastbone (sternum), just below the nipple line

C-A-B Order

Immediately have a bystander call 911 and begin CPR.  If you are alone, complete five cycles (about 2 minutes) of CPR before calling for help. 

Use the C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing) Order

• Begin 30 Compressions
• Open Airway with head tilt–chin lift and check breathing, AT THE SAME TIME
• Give 2 rescue Breaths 

Compressions

For an unconscious infant immediately begin 30 chest compressions, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.  Administer to the breastbone (sternum), just below the nipple line, using two fingers.  Compressions should be swift, hard and consistent with a depth of at least 1/3 of the infant's body (or 1 1/2").  Avoid leaning on the victim’s chest between compressions to allow for full chest recoil. 

Airway

Open the victim’s airway, using the head tilt-chin lift method and AT THE SAME TIME check for breathing (5-10 seconds).  Look into the victim’s mouth for an obstruction.  If you see an obstruction, remove it immediately. 

    If the victim is breathing:

• Place the victim in the recovery position

    If the victim is not breathing:

• Administer - Rescue breaths

Breathing

Administer 2 rescue breaths (1 second each). 

    If the first breath does not make the chest rise:

• Re-tilt the head and try the breath again 

    After administering 2 rescue breaths

• Resume compressions 

Continue CPR Cycle until: 

• AED becomes available
• Victim shows signs of life
• A second rescuer takes over
• EMS arrives and takes over
• You are too tired to continue

Week 3 - Child CPR

Assess

Assess the Scene

• Determine 
• If it is safe to help
• Number of victims
• if you will need additional assistance from EMS
• What personal protective devices are readily available to you

Assess the Victim

• Check the victim for responsiveness
• Tap on victim’s shoulder and shout “Are you okay?”
• Look at the victim’s chest and face
• Determine if the victim is breathing normally
• Agonal breathing is NOT normal breathing and needs care

Activate EMS

• Call 911 or direct a bystander to call 911 and return
• Caller should give dispatcher victim’s location, details of emergency situation including how many victims are injured and what treatment is occurring 
• Request AED machine, if available

Check Pulse

• Check for pulse (about 10 seconds) in the carotid artery in the neck
• If unable to locate a pulse, do not waste valuable time searching, immediately begin CPR

CPR Cycle

Perform cycles of 30 compressions (at a rate of 100-120 per minute) and then administer 2 rescue breaths

    Compression depth:

• Child: At least 1/3 of the child's body (approximately 2 inches)

     Position: 

• On the breastbone (sternum)

C-A-B Order

Immediately have a bystander call 911 and begin CPR.  If you are alone, complete five cycles (about 2 minutes) of CPR before calling for help. 

Use the C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing) Order

• Begin 30 Compressions
• Open Airway with head tilt–chin lift and check breathing, AT THE SAME TIME
• Give 2 rescue Breaths 

Compressions

For an unconscious child immediately begin 30 chest compressions, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.  Administer to the breastbone (sternum), using one had for children under the onset of puberty.  Compressions should be swift, hard and consistent with a depth of at least 1/3 of the child's body (or 2").  Avoid leaning on the victim’s chest between compressions to allow for full chest recoil. 

Airway

Open the victim’s airway, using the head tilt-chin lift method and AT THE SAME TIME check for breathing (5-10 seconds).  Look into the victim’s mouth for an obstruction.  If you see an obstruction, remove it immediately. 

    If the victim is breathing:

• Place the victim in the recovery position

    If the victim is not breathing:

• Administer - Rescue breaths

Breathing

Administer 2 rescue breaths (1 second each). 

    If the first breath does not make the chest rise:

• Re-tilt the head and try the breath again 

    After administering 2 rescue breaths

• Resume compressions 

Continue CPR Cycle until: 

• AED becomes available
• Victim shows signs of life
• A second rescuer takes over
• EMS arrives and takes over
• You are too tired to continue