Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a form of first aid that even a total medical novice can use in an emergency. Its purpose is simple: maintain the flow of blood, and make sure that oxygen is circulated through their lungs. When you're faced with a person in need--adult, child or infant--you can save a life by following a step-by-step CPR guide.
Check Breathing
The website son.washington.edu has a fine guide for the step-by-step CPR process, and the Red Cross (on redcross.org) even has a video you can watch. If you find a person who is unconscious, gently shake him. If he doesn't respond, place two fingers against the neck and feel for a pulse. If you don't feel a pulse or he is not breathing, you need to start CPR.
Next, call for an ambulance. After that, get them flat on their back, put one hand on their forehead, the other under their neck, and tilt their head back slightly; this will help to clear their airway. If they don't start breathing, open their mouth and tug their tongue forward. If they still don't breathe, you need to breathe for them. Keep one hand under their neck, pinch their nose closed with the other, and give two quick blows into their mouth. Turn your head toward their chest. Listen to the air coming out their mouth, and you see if their chest falls. If these things don't happen, their airway is still blocked. Even if this is the case, continue breathing for them -- some air might be getting through. If they start breathing on their own, stop this aspect of CPR. If not, you'll have to continue.
The Heart
The next element of the step-by-step CPR is to get the blood circulating. Kneel next to the person, place the palm of one hand on top of their chest, right over the center--where the sternum is--and place the other hand over the first, and interlace your fingers. Keep your arms locked, and push down--using your body weight--one to two inches, and hold for half a second. Release for half a second, and then repeat for a total of 15 cycles.
If, at this point, the person is breathing on her own, just continue the CPR for her heart. If not, give her two more blows of air, and another 15 thrusts to the chest. Continue this until medical help arrives.
Child CPR
As the website firstaidweb.com points out, child CPR is different from an adult. Don't blow as hard, just a gentle breath. Also, use one hand for the chest compressions, press only one inch down, and do 30 between the breathing.
Infant CPR
For an infant, when you breathe, place your mouth over their mouth and nose, and give two very gentle puffs. Use two fingers to squeeze the sternum down half an inch, do 30 of these for five cycles, and two more puffs. If the infant doesn't respond, do 30 compressions and two breaths until help arrives.
Tags: their mouth, their chest, doesn respond, feel pulse, half second, hand their