CPR and the unconscious person

1. D: Dangers. Check for danger to you, bystanders and the person. Only go in if it is safe.
2. R: Responsive? Talk and touch: “Open your eyes. Squeeze my hand. Let it go.” Squeeze their shoulders.
3. S: Send for help. Call 000.
4. A: Airway. Open the mouth and check for anything blocking it.
5. B: Breathing. Look, listen and feel for normal breathing.
6. C: CPR. If they are not breathing normally, give 30 compressions then 2 breaths.
7. D: Defibrillation. Attach an AED as soon as one is available and follow its prompts.

Compressions

• Lay the person on their back on a firm surface.
• Heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone (centre of the chest), other hand on top.
• Push down one third of the chest depth: more than 5 cm in adults, about 5 cm in children, 4 cm in infants (use two fingers).
• Rate 100 to 120 per minute. Let the chest fully come back up. Keep interruptions as short as possible.
• If there are other rescuers, swap about every 2 minutes.

Breaths

• Tilt the head back and lift the chin (infants: keep the head neutral and support the jaw). Seal and blow for about 1 second, enough to make the chest rise.
• If the chest doesn’t rise, re-check head tilt, chin lift and your seal.
• The risk of catching a disease is very low. Use a barrier device if you have one.
• If you can’t or won’t give breaths, give compressions without stopping.

• Anyone can use an AED. Turn it on and follow the voice prompts.
• Bare chest. Pads: one below the right collarbone, one on the left side below the armpit.
• Keep pads about 8 cm away from an implanted device (lump under the skin). Remove medication patches.
• Children under 8: use paediatric pads if available. If not, use adult pads, not touching each other (front and back if they are too big).
• Nobody touches the person while the AED analyses or shocks. Wet surroundings are not a reason to delay.
• Keep CPR going until the AED is attached and ready, then follow its prompts.

• Roll them onto their side (recovery position) and keep the airway open.
• Don’t leave them sitting in a chair or with their head between their knees.
• Call an ambulance. Control any bleeding. Keep checking their breathing.
• If fluid or vomit blocks the airway, roll them on their side with the mouth turned down so it drains. Remove loose dentures.
• Give nothing by mouth. Don’t make them vomit.
• If several people are hurt, the unconscious person comes first.

• Rescue from land or a boat if you can. Throw something that floats. Only go into the water with flotation.
• Check them on their back. If not breathing normally, start CPR with rescue breaths. Compression-only CPR is strongly discouraged (only as a stop-gap).
• Only roll them if the airway is blocked. Don’t try to clear froth. Don’t press on the stomach.
• Everyone pulled from the water needs an ambulance and medical check, even if they seem fine.