Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation

CPR is a resuscitation technique that is used to maintain circulation until help arrives by providing artificial respiration's and chest compressions to a casualty.

1. "Shake & Shout". You do this by shaking there shoulders and saying "Hello, can you hear me?". If they do not answer, it means that they are unconscious.
    
2. You must then Send for Help and check is there a defibrillator available. If there is a bystander get them to call an ambulance, if there aren't any you must call an Ambulance as any unconscious casualty will need to go to hospital.
    
3. You then check if they have an airway, are breathing and have signs of circulation. You do this by checking the A. B. C. of the casualty. They Stand for Airway, Breathing & Circulation.
    

   • Airway

     You must now open the casualties airway by first tilting the head back by placing two fingers under the casualties chin and your other hand on their forehead. You then check to see if there is any obvious blockages to the airway by looking around the casualties mouth. If you see anything you can remove it by sweeping it out with your finger.
     
      

   • Breathing

     Next, you check the if the casualty for signs of life including breathing by Look, Listening and Feeling for a breath for 10 seconds. You do this by placing your cheek above the casualties mouth and you look to see if the chest is rising and falling, you listen to see if you can hear the casualties breath and you try to feel their breath on your cheek.
     
     If there is no signs of life you then must Give 30 Chest Compressions.

• You kneel right beside the casualties chest and remove the casualties top.
• Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest. Place the heel of the other hand on top of the first hand. You may interlock your fingers.
• Keep your elbows straight and your shoulders directly over the patients chest.
• Press the breastbone downward at least 5cm in an adult, then release the pressure completely. You repeat this to give 30 chest compressions at the rate of 100-120 per minute.

After the 30 compressions you then give two rescue breaths. You do this by forming a tight seal with your mouth around their mouth. You pinch the soft part of the nose to close it and breath into the casualty. When you do this make sure the chest rises, and that you don't breath to hard as this can force air into their stomach which can cause them to vomit. Make sure you remove your lips between rescue breaths so the casualty can allow the air to escape. You continue doing cycles of 30 chest compressions and two breaths until help arrives. If they start breathing normally again you place them in the recovery position and treat any life threatening injuries.

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