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My Cardiac Team after completing Project Adam 

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My Cardiac Team after completing Project Adam 

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Project ADAM Cardiac Emergency Response Drill

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Diagnosis.

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American Heart Association CPR & First Aid

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First Aid, CPR & Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). Learn more about resuscitation science, training in your community or organization, and other CPR programs..

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Project ADAM affiliates strive to assist schools and communities in establishing an emergency plan to place into action in the incidence of a sudden cardiac arrest.

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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique that's useful in many emergencies in which someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. For example, when someone has a heart attack or nearly drowns. The American Heart Association recommends starting CPR with hard and fast chest compressions. This hands-only CPR recommendation applies to both untrained bystanders and first responders.

If you're afraid to do CPR or unsure how to perform CPR correctly, know that it's always better to try than to do nothing at all. The difference between doing something and doing nothing could be someone's life.

Here's advice from the American Heart Association:

Untrained. If you're not trained in CPR or worried about giving rescue breaths, then provide hands-only CPR. That means uninterrupted chest compressions of 100 to 120 a minute until paramedics arrive (described in more detail below). You don't need to try rescue breathing.

Trained and ready to go. If you're well-trained and confident in your ability, check to see if there is a pulse and breathing. If there is no pulse or breathing within 10 seconds, begin chest compressions. Start CPR with 30 chest compressions before giving two rescue breaths.

Trained but rusty. If you've previously received CPR training but you're not confident in your abilities, then just do chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 a minute. Details are described below.

The above advice applies to situations in which adults, children and infants need CPR, but not newborns. Newborns are babies up to 4 weeks old.

CPR can keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and other organs until emergency medical treatment can restore a typical heart rhythm. When the heart stops, the body no longer gets oxygen-rich blood. The lack of oxygen-rich blood can cause brain damage in only a few minutes.

If you are untrained and have immediate access to a phone, call 911 or your local emergency number before beginning CPR. The dispatcher can tell you how to do the proper procedures until help arrives. To learn CPR properly, take an accredited first-aid training course, including CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Before you begin

Before starting CPR, check:

Is the environment safe for the person?

Is the person conscious or unconscious?

If the person appears unconscious, tap or shake their shoulder and ask loudly, "Are you OK?"

If the person doesn't respond and you're with another person who can help, have one person call 911 or the local emergency number and get the AED, if one is available. Have the other person begin CPR.

If you are alone and have immediate access to a telephone, call 911 or your local emergency number before beginning CPR. Get the AED if one is available.

As soon as an AED is available, deliver one shock if instructed by the device, then begin CPR.

Remember to spell C-A-B

The American Heart Association uses the letters C-A-B to help people remember the order to perform the steps of CPR.

Compressions: Restore blood flow

Compressions means you use your hands to push down hard and fast in a specific way on the person's chest. Compressions are the most important step in CPR. Follow these steps for performing CPR compressions:

1. Put the person on their back on a firm surface.

2. Kneel next to the person's neck and shoulders.

3. Place the lower palm of your hand over the center of the person's chest, between the nipples.

4. Place your other hand on top of the first hand. Keep your elbows straight. Place your shoulders directly above your hands.

5. Push straight down on the chest at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 centimeters). Use your entire body weight, not just your arms, when doing compressions.

6. Push hard at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute. The American Heart Association suggests performing compressions to the beat of the song "Stayin' Alive." Allow the chest to spring back after each push.

7. If you haven't been trained in CPR, continue chest compressions until there are signs of movement or until emergency medical personnel take over. If you have been trained in CPR, go on to opening the airway and rescue breathing.

Airway: Open the airway

If you're trained in CPR and you've performed 30 chest compressions, open the person's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. Put your palm on the person's forehead and gently tilt the head back. Then with the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway.

Breathing: Breathe for the person

Rescue breathing can be mouth-to-mouth breathing or mouth-to-nose breathing if the mouth is seriously injured or can't be opened. Current recommendations suggest performing rescue breathing using a bag-mask device with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

1. After opening the airway (using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver), pinch the nostrils shut for mouth-to-mouth breathing and cover the person's mouth with yours, making a seal.

2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Give the first rescue breath - lasting one second - and watch to see if the chest rises.

3. If the chest rises, give a second breath.

4. If the chest doesn't rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give a second breath. Thirty chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths is considered one cycle. Be careful not to provide too many breaths or to breathe with too much force.

5. Continue chest compressions to restore blood flow.

6. As soon as an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, apply it and follow the prompts. Give one shock, then continue chest compressions for two more minutes before giving a second shock. If you're not trained to use an AED, a 911 operator or another emergency medical operator may be able to give you instructions. If an AED isn't available, go to step 5 below.

7. Continue CPR until there are signs of movement or emergency medical personnel take over.

To perform CPR on a child

The procedure for giving CPR to a child age 1 through puberty is essentially the same as that for an adult - follow the C-A-B steps. The American Heart Association says you should not delay CPR and offers this advice on how to perform CPR on a child:

Compressions: Restore blood flow

If you are alone and didn't see the child collapse, start chest compressions for about two minutes. Then quickly call 911 or your local emergency number and get the AED if one is available.

If you're alone and you did see the child collapse, call 911 or your local emergency number first. Then get the AED, if available, and start CPR. If another person is with you, have that person call for help and get the AED while you start CPR.

1. Place the child on their back on a firm surface.

2. Kneel next to the child's neck and shoulders.

3. Place two hands - or only one hand if the child is very small - on the lower half of the child's breastbone.

4. Using the heel of one or both hands, press straight down on the chest about 2 inches (approximately 5 centimeters) but not greater than 2.4 inches (approximately 6 centimeters). Push hard and fast - 100 to 120 compressions a minute.

5. If you haven't been trained in CPR, continue chest compressions until the child moves or until emergency medical personnel take over. If you have been trained in CPR, open the airway and start rescue breathing.

Airway: Open the airway

If you're trained in CPR and you've performed 30 chest compressions, open the child's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver.

Place your palm on the child's forehead and gently tilt their head back.

With the other hand, gently lift the chin forward to open the airway.

Breathing: Breathe for the child

Follow these steps for mouth-to-mouth breathing for a child.

1. After using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver to open the airway, pinch the child's nostrils shut. Cover the child's mouth with yours, making a seal.

2. Breathe into the child's mouth for one second. Watch to see if the chest rises. If it rises, give a second breath. If the chest doesn't rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver first. Then give the second breath. Be careful not to provide too many breaths or to breathe with too much force.

3. After the two breaths, immediately begin the next cycle of compressions and breaths. Note: If there are two people available to do CPR on the child, change rescuers every two minutes - or sooner if the rescuer is fatigued - and give one to two breaths every 15 compressions.

4. As soon as an AED is available, apply it and follow the prompts. As soon as an AED is available, apply it and follow the prompts. Use pediatric pads for children older than 4 weeks old and up to age 8. If pediatric pads aren't available, use adult pads. Give one shock, then restart CPR - starting with chest compressions - for two more minutes before giving a second shock. If you're not trained to use an AED, a 911 operator or another emergency medical operator may be able to give you directions.

Continue until the child moves or help arrives.

To perform CPR on a baby 4 weeks old or older

Cardiac arrest in babies is usually due to a lack of oxygen, such as from choking. If you know that the baby has an airway blockage, perform first aid for choking. If you don't know why the baby isn't breathing, perform CPR.

First, evaluate the situation. Touch the baby and watch for a response, such as movement. Don't shake the baby.

If there's no response, call 911 or your local emergency number, then immediately start CPR.

Follow the compressions, airway and breathing method for a baby under age 1. Do not follow this procedure for newborns, which include babies up to 4 weeks old.

If you saw the baby collapse, get the AED, if one is available, before starting CPR. If another person is available, have that person call for help immediately and get the AED while you stay with the baby and perform CPR.

Compressions: Restore blood flow

1. Place the baby on their back on a firm, flat surface, such as a table or floor.

2. Imagine a horizontal line drawn between the baby's nipples. Place two fingers of one hand just below this line, in the center of the chest.

3. Gently compress the chest about 1.5 inches, which is about 4 centimeters.

4. Count aloud as you push in a fairly rapid rhythm. You should push at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions a minute, just as you would when giving an adult CPR.

Airway: Open the airway

After 30 compressions, gently tip the head back by lifting the chin with one hand and pushing down on the forehead with the other hand.

Breathing: Breathe for the baby

1. Cover the baby's mouth and nose with your mouth.

2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Use the strength of your cheeks to deliver gentle puffs of air, instead of deep breaths from your lungs. Gently puff a breath into the baby's mouth one time, taking one second for the breath. Watch to see if the baby's chest rises. If it does, give a second rescue breath. If the chest does not rise, repeat the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and then give the second breath.

3. If the baby's chest still doesn't rise, continue chest compressions.

4. Give two breaths after every 30 chest compressions. If two people are doing CPR, give one to two breaths after every 15 chest compressions.

5. Continue CPR until you see signs of life or until medical personnel arrive.

Show references

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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): First aid

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Do you know how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)?

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Watching Compressions, it's harder than it looks

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Watching Compressions, it's harder than it looks

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CPR in Action | A 3D look inside the body

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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique. It aims to keep blood and oxygen flowing through the body when a person's heart and breathing have stopped.

CPR can be performed by any trained person. It involves external chest compressions and rescue breathing.

CPR performed within the first six minutes of the heart stopping can keep someone alive until medical help arrives.

Although rescue breathing techniques were used to revive drowning victims as early as the 18th century, it wasn't until 1960 that external cardiac massage was proven to be an effective revival technique. The American Heart Association (AHA) then developed a formal CPR program.

While there's no substitute for formal CPR training taught by certified instructors, the AHA recently recommended that people who haven't received CPR training initiate "hands-only" CPR. This method removes the rescue breathing and is easy to perform, proven to save lives, and better than waiting until trained help arrives.

People without CPR training can perform hands-only CPR by following the steps below.

1. Survey the scene

Make sure it's safe for you to reach the person in need of help.

2. Check the person for responsiveness

Shake their shoulder and ask loudly, "Are you OK?" For an infant, tap the bottom of the foot and check for a reaction.

3. If the person isn't responsive, seek immediate help

Call 911 or your local emergency services if the person isn't responsive. You can also ask someone else to call. If you're alone and believe the person is a victim of drowning, or if the unresponsive person is a child from age 1 to 8, begin CPR first, perform it for two minutes, then call emergency services.

4. Check the heart with an automated external defibrillator (AED)

If an AED is readily available, use it to check the person's heart rhythm. The machine may also instruct you to deliver one electric shock to their heart before beginning chest compressions.

If the person is a child from age 1 to 8, perform CPR first for two minutes before checking their heart with an AED. Use the device's pediatric pads if they're available.

The use of an AED in infants under 1 years old isn't conclusive or strongly recommended.

If an AED isn't immediately available, don't waste time looking for the device. Start chest compressions immediately.

5. Locate hand position

If the person is an adult, place the heel of one of your hands in the center of their chest, between the nipples. Put your other hand on top of the first. Interlock your fingers so they're drawn up and the heel of your hand remains on their chest.

For children from age 1 to 8, use just one of your hands in the center of their chest.

For infants, place two fingers in the center of their chest, slightly below the nipple line.

6. Begin compressions

To start compressions on an adult, use your upper body to push straight down on their chest at least 2 inches. Perform these at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow their chest to recoil between compressions.

For children from ages 1 to 8, push straight down on their chest about 2 inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow their chest to recoil between compressions.

For an infant, push straight down on their chest 1½ inches at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Once again, let the chest recoil between compressions.

7. Continue compressions

Repeat the compression cycle until the person starts to breathe or medical help arrives. If the person begins to breathe, have them lie on their side quietly until medical assistance is on the scene.

When the AHA revised its CPR guidelines in 2010, it announced that chest compressions should be performed first before opening the person's airway. The old model was ABC (Airway, Breathing, Compressions). This was replaced by CAB (Compressions, Airway, Breathing).

In the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, there's still oxygen in the person's lungs and bloodstream. Starting chest compressions first on someone who's unresponsive or not breathing normally can help send this critical oxygen to the brain and heart without any delay.

If you're trained in CPR and come across someone who's unresponsive or having difficulty breathing, follow the steps for hands-only CPR for 30 chest compressions.

Then perform the following actions:

1. Open the airway

Put the palm of your hand on the person's forehead and tilt their head back. Gently lift their chin forward with your other hand.

For infants and children from age 1 to 8, a head tilt alone will often open their airway.

2. Give rescue breaths

Rescue breaths are appropriate for anyone age 1 and older. With the airway open, pinch the nostrils shut, and cover the person's mouth with a CPR face mask to make a seal. For infants, cover both mouth and nose with the mask. If a mask isn't available, cover the person's mouth with yours.

Give two rescue breaths, each lasting about 1 second.

Watch for their chest to rise with each breath. If it doesn't, reposition the face mask and try again.

3. Alternate rescue breathing with chest compressions

Continue alternating 30 compressions with two rescue breaths until the person begins to breathe or until medical help arrives.

If the person begins to breathe, have him or her lie on their side quietly until medical assistance is on the scene.

Many humanitarian and nonprofit organizations provide CPR and AED training. The American Red Cross offers courses in CPR and combined CPR/AED techniques, as does the AHA.

The AED can detect abnormalities in a person's heart rhythm and, if needed, deliver an electric shock to the chest to restore normal rhythm to the heart. This is known as defibrillation.

Sudden cardiac arrests are often caused by a fast and irregular heart rhythm that begins in the heart's lower chambers, or ventricles. This is ventricular fibrillation. An AED can help restore the heart's normal rhythm and even help revive a person whose heart has stopped functioning. Learn more about how the heart works.

With training, an AED is easy to use. When used properly in conjunction with CPR, the device greatly increases a person's chances for survival.

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How to Perform CPR: Hands-Only and Mouth-to-Mouth

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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) keeps blood and oxygen flowing when a person's heart and breathing have stopped. We provide step-by-step instructions with illustrations. Learn about hands-only CPR, which can be performed by people without formal training. Also learn about defibrillators, CPR training, and more.

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The human body is an amazing machine. Learn more about it through movies, quizzes, articles, and more.

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CPR - Kids can learn CPR too! Taught BY Kids - FOR Kids. Kids will learn how to be safe and do CPR.

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0:00 / 4:02•Watch full video

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CPR - Simple steps to save a life - Animated Explanation Video - Health Sketch

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SPED 531_533 Lesson Plan_ What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest_ Let's Learn CPR (1)