CPR

CPR

1. Maintains airway patency & supports breathing and circulation

2. 1. Make sure the patient, bystanders and you are safe.

3. 2. Check the patient for a response; shake shoulders and ask if they are okay.

   • 3. If no response, shout for help
     • 4. Turn the patient onto their back and open the airway using head and chin tilt.
       • 5.Keep the airway open and look, listen and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 secs.
         • 6. If they are not breathing normally, ask someone to call the crash team/ambulance and bring a defibrillator if available.
           • 7. Start chest compression
             • Place the heel of one hand on the sternum (breastbone) and place the heel of the other hand on top of the first hand. Interlock the fingers of the hands and position myself vertically above the patient's chest, and with arms straight, press down on the sternum 5-6cms.
               • After each compression, release all the pressure on the chest without losing contact between the hands and sternum. Repeat at a rate of 100 - 120 min.
                 • Combine chest compressions with rescue breaths
                   • After 30 compressions open the airway again using head and chin lift.
                     • Blow steadily into the mouth whilst watching for the chest to rise and fall. Give a total of 2 rescue breaths.
                       • Continue with chest compressions and rescue breaths in a ratio of 30:2
                         • Continue resuscitation until paramedics arrive and take over or the patient shows signs of regaining consciousness or you become exhausted.
         • Look for chest movement
           • Listen at the mouth for breath sounds
             • Feel for air on cheek
         • If breathing normally, put patient in the recovery position, summon help and continue to assess breathing.
           • Recovery position
             • Arm and leg are bent to support the body and to stop it rolling over. The head is tilted far back and the hand of the other arm is tucked under the chin to keep airway open.

4. Children not breathing - use the adult sequence but the chest should only be compressed by one third of its depth.

   • Use 2 fingers for an infant under 1 year and 1 or 2 hands for a child over 1 year as needed to achieve an adequate depth of compression
     • Give 5 initial rescue breaths followed by 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths.