Learn CPR

 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that can help save a person’s life if their breathing or heart stops.  When a person’s heart stops beating, they are in cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain and lungs. Death can happen in minutes without treatment. CPR uses chest compressions to mimic how the heart pumps. These compressions help keep blood flowing throughout the body.  Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked. A person having a heart attack is still talking and breathing. This person does not need CPR—but they do need to get to the hospital right away. Heart attack increases the risk for going into cardiac arrest. 

CPR is likely needed if the person is unresponsive, even if you shake or shout at them. The person isn’t breathing or is only gasping.

You don’t need a special certification or formal training to perform CPR, but you do need education. If cardiac arrest happens to someone near you, don’t be afraid—just be prepared! 

However, formal training will likely make you feel more confident in procedure as well as include training for how to properly use an AED. 

Please review the below informal training from the Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/hands-only-cpr and a short two minute video from the American Heart Association. https://international.heart.org/hands-only-cpr/

First call 9-1-1 right away. If another bystander is nearby, save time by asking that person to call 9-1-1 and look for an automated external defibrillator (AED) while you begin CPR. AEDs are portable machines that can electrically shock the heart and cause it to start beating again. Give CPR. Push down hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 pushes a minute. Let the chest come back up to its normal position after each push. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends timing your pushes to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive.” This method of CPR is called “hands-only” and does not involve breathing into the person’s mouth. Continue giving CPR until medical professionals arrive or until a person with formal CPR training can take over.

Hands-Only CPR 

If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, hands-only CPR is the recommended form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It not only increases the likelihood of surviving breathing and cardiac emergencies that occur outside of medical settings, but it's simple to learn and easy to remember. 

Before Giving CPR 

1. Check the scene and the person. Check to make sure the scene is safe, tap the person on the shoulder to see if they're OK, and look for signs of rhythmic, normal breathing.  

2. Call 911 for assistance. If there's no response from the victim when asked if he or she is OK, call 911, or ask a bystander to call for help. 

3. Begin compressions. If the person is unresponsive, perform hands-only CPR.  

How to Perform Hands-Only CPR 

1. Ensure the person is on their back on a firm, flat surface  

2. Kneel beside the person  Your knees should be near the person’s body and spread about shoulder width apart 

3. Use correct hand placement  Place the heel of one hand in the center of their chest, with your other hand on top Interlace your fingers and make sure they are up off the chest 

4. Use correct body position  Position your body so that your shoulders are directly over your hands Lock your elbows to keep your arms straight 

5. Give continuous compressions  Push hard and fast (at least 2 inches; 100 to 120 compressions per minute) 

6. Allow chest to return to its normal position after each compression

NO.  Consider reviewing the following information from the Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/child-baby-cpr

Before Giving Child or Baby CPR 

1. Check the scene for safety, form an initial impression, obtain consent from the parent or guardian, and use personal protective equipment (PPE)  

2. If the child or baby appears unresponsive, check the child or baby for responsiveness (shout-tap-shout)  For a child, shout to get the child’s attention, using the child’s name if you know it. If the child does not respond, tap the child’s shoulder and shout again while checking for breathing, life-threatening bleeding or another obvious life-threatening condition For a baby, shout to get the baby’s attention, using the baby’s name if you know it. If the baby does not respond, tap the bottom of the baby’s foot and shout again while checking for breathing, life-threatening bleeding or another obvious life-threatening condition. Check for no more than 10 seconds 

3. If the child or baby does not respond and is not breathing or only gasping, CALL 9-1-1 and get equipment, or tell someone to do so     

Performing Child & Baby CPR

1. Place the child or baby on their back on a firm, flat surface  For a child, kneel beside the child For a baby, stand or kneel to the side of the baby, with your hips at a slight angle 

2.  Give 30 compressions  For a child, place the heel of one hand in the center of the child’s chest, with your other hand on top and your fingers interlaced and off the child’s chest Position your shoulders directly over your hands and lock your elbows Keep your arms straight Push down hard and fast about 2 inches at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute Allow the chest to return to normal position after each compression 

For a small child, use a one-handed CPR technique Place the heel of one hand in the center of the child’s chest Push down hard and fast about 2 inches at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute 

For a baby, place both thumbs (side-by-side) on the center of the baby’s chest, just below the nipple line Use the other fingers to encircle the baby’s chest toward the back, providing support Using both thumbs at the same time, push hard down and fast about 1 ½ inches at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute Allow the chest to return to its normal position after each compression 

Alternatively, for a baby, use the two-finger technique Use two fingers placed parallel to the chest in the center of the chest For a baby, if you can’t reach the depth of 1 ½ inches, consider using the one-hand technique 

3.  Give 2 breaths  For a child, open the airway to a slightly past-neutral position using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique 

For a baby, open the airway to a neutral position using the head-tilt/chin-lift technique Blow into the child or baby’s mouth for about 1 second Ensure each breath makes the chest rise Allow the air to exit before giving the next breath If the first breath does not cause the chest to rise, retilt the head and ensure a proper seal before giving the second breath. If the second breath does not make the chest rise, an object may be blocking the airway 

4.  Continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths until:  

You notice an obvious sign of life,

An AED is ready to use, 

Another trained responder is available to take over compressions,

 EMS personnel arrive and begin their care, 

You are alone and too tired to continue,

The scene becomes unsafe, 

You have performed approximately 2 minutes of CPR (5 sets of 30:2), 

you are alone and caring for baby, and you need to call 9-1-1 

Training Locator: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr or https://cpr.heart.org/en/course-catalog-search

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

The average response time for first responders once 911 is called is 8-12 minutes. For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival reduces by approximately 10%. 

If CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. 

Fortunately, with CPR/AED training, which takes just a few short hours, you can gain the skills necessary to help save a life.  Once your training has been successfully completed, you'll receive a two-year certification in CPR/AED, and have the ability to access refresher materials at any time during your certification period.

Depending on how (and what training) you take there may be some reasonable fees for the class.

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/cpr.htm and https://www.redcross.org/ and https://international.heart.org/