Administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Since biological death occurs 8 to 10 minutes after clinical death, it is important to start CPR as soon as possible.

The goal of CPR is to begin compressions within 10 seconds of recognizing cardiac arrest.

To open the airway with a head-tilt/chin-lift method, put one hand on the forehead and the fingertips of the other hand under the neck.

Feel for a pulse for at least 5 seconds but no more than 10 seconds before starting chest compressions.

To do chest compressions on an adult, put two hands over the xiphoid process.

Give chest compressions at the rate of 60 per minute for an adult victim.

To give ventilations to an infant, cover the infant’s mouth with your mouth and pinch the infant’s nose shut.

Palpate the carotid artery of an infant to see if the infant has a pulse.

If a victim is choking and coughing, give abdominal thrusts.

If an infant has an obstructed airway, give five back blows followed by five chest thrusts.

What is the ratio of chest compressions to ventilations when one person is performing CPR on an adult victim?

What is the ratio of chest compressions to ventilations when two people are performing CPR on an adult victim?