CPR Steps

This simple CPR guide will outline the basic CPR steps used to save lives in an emergency situation and will show you how to do CPR. This CPR guide is updated with the 2015 CPR Guidelines.

1. Check for Responsiveness

• Shake the victim’s shoulders and ask “are you ok”, “are you ok”.
• Make sure to analyze the situation first and don’t approach a situation that might be dangerous to you such as electricity or poisonous gases.

2. CALL Emergency Response

• Call Emergency Response (Such as 9-1-1) or instruct a specific person to Call Emergency Response.
• Remember CALL FIRST.
• Quickly tell the operator the emergency and the specific location.
• Do not hang up the phone. Place it next to the victim so the operator can hear what’s going on.

3. Perform CPR Compressions

• Begin CPR with 30 Chest Compressions
  • Adult: AT LEAST 2 inch compressions but no more than 2.4 inch compressions
    • Adults are defined as the onset of puberty and older.
    • Place 2 Hands on the breastbone, midway between the nipples.
  • Child: 2 inch compressions
    • Child is defined as 1 year old to the onset of puberty
    • 1 or 2 hands on the breastbone, midway between the nipples
  • Infant: 1/3 the depth of the chest compressions. Approximately 1 1/2 inches.
    • Infant is defined as less than 1 year old.
    • Place 2 or 3 fingers on the breastbone just below the nipple line.
• Press hard and fast at the rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.
• Do not lean on the victim so as to allow the chest to recoil. Allow the chest to recoil completely and minimize any pauses in between compressions.

4. Perform Rescue Breaths

• To open the airway, pinch the nose, lift the chin and tilt the head back.
• Blow 2 rescue breaths in the victim’s mouth for at least one second, per 30 compressions (30:2 ratio)
• WATCH THE CHEST RISE AND FALL WITH EACH BREATH!!
  • If the chest does not rise and fall, there might be a blockage in the airway. Attempt to remove the blockage and continue with CPR.
• FOR an infant: Place your mouth over their entire nose and mouth. Don’t blow too hard or you can damage the infant’s lungs.

5. REPEAT CPR STEPS 3-4 until Help Arrives.

If you are unable or unwilling to perform rescue breaths, continually do compressions only.
What is Hands-Only CPR?
Hands-Only CPR is when you perform CPR without rescue breaths. Chest Compressions only.
Hopefully this guide has given you a quick review of the CPR steps and how to do CPR. For more detailed instruction, consider taking one of our FREE CPR Classes.