ST JOHN AMBULANCE: How to correctly perform CPR on an adult

St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity, has teamed up with the Littlehampton Gazette to bring you some simple, but life saving, first aid tips – this week: performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an adult.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Jul 2015, 16:00 BST

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How to correctly perform CPR on an adultHow to correctly perform CPR on an adult
How to correctly perform CPR on an adult

On discovering a collapsed casualty, check the scene for danger and establish whether he is conscious or unconscious, tap his shoulders and ask loudly and clearly ‘What has happened?’ or give a command such as ‘Open your eyes’.

To check whether the casualty is breathing, look, listen and feel for normal breathing.

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Look for chest movement, listen for sounds of breathing and feel for breath on your cheek.

Do this for no more than ten seconds and if the casualty is not breathing, begin CPR.

Kneeling at the side of the casualty, place the heel of one hand on the centre of the chest.

Do not press on the casualty’s ribs, stomach or bottom of breastbone.

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Place the heel of your other hand on top and interlock your fingers but keep them off the casualty’s ribs

Leaning over the casualty press straight down to 5 or 6cm keeping the elbows straight.

Release the pressure but do not take your hands off the chest. Give 30 compressions at a rate of between 100-120 per minute.

Move to the casualty’s head.

Support his chin with the fingertips of one hand and with the other hand, pinch the soft part of his nose.

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Take a breath and place your mouth over the casualty’s mouth making a good seal – use a pocket mask if possible.

Breathe steadily into the casualty’s mouth for one second. Watch the chest rise.

Keeping your hands in position, remove your mouth and let the chest fall. Give two rescue breaths.

Continue giving 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths until one of these things happens: professional help takes over; the casualty starts to wake up, open his eyes and breathes normally; you become exhausted.

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If you are unable, unwilling or untrained to give rescue breaths, you can give chest compressions only.

• For those looking for quick, easily accessible first aid information, the St John Ambulance app is available free on smartphones and the website (www.sja.org.uk) offers demo videos, an interactive game, and lots of free advice. For more information about first aid courses please call 0303 003 0101.

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