I remember my first CPR training like it was yesterday. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely press the dummy's chest. The instructor kept saying "You can't break ribs if they're already dead." Morbid? Yeah. But it stuck with me. And thank god it did – because two years later at a soccer game, I actually used it when a teammate collapsed. Today I'm breaking down exactly how do you perform CPR step-by-step, without the medical jargon that made my eyes glaze over in class.
Why Bother Learning CPR? The Cold Hard Facts
Let's be real – CPR looks scary in movies. All that dramatic chest-pounding and people gasping back to life. The reality? It's messy, exhausting, and chances are you'll never need it. But here's why you should learn anyway:
| Situation | Survival Rate Without CPR | Survival Rate With CPR |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiac arrest at home | Less than 10% | Over 30% |
| Cardiac arrest in public | About 8% | Nearly 40% |
| Drowning incidents | 5-10% | 50-70% |
My firefighter buddy puts it bluntly: "If you drop in a Walmart, you want some grandma who remembers her 1980s CPR class pounding on you, not some panicked kid filming for TikTok." Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely.
The Absolute Basics: What CPR Actually Does
Before we dive into how do you perform CPR, let's clear up what it isn't. CPR doesn't restart stopped hearts. Shocking, right? All it does is manually pump blood to the brain until pros arrive with a defibrillator. Think of it as buying time – 4-6 minutes without oxygen causes permanent brain damage.
When Should You Not Do CPR?
- If the person is coughing or breathing normally (check properly!)
- If they're conscious and talking to you (yes, people try this)
- If there's a visible "Do Not Resuscitate" order
I made that last mistake once at a nursing home visit. Awkward doesn't begin to cover it.
Adult CPR: Step-by-Step Breakdown
Let's get practical. Here's exactly how do you perform CPR on adults:
Step 1: Safety First
Scan for dangers – downed power lines, traffic, violent people. You're no help if you become victim #2.
Step 2: Check Responsiveness
Shout while tapping shoulders: "Hey! Can you hear me?" No response? Tilt head back slightly to open airway.
Step 3: Call for Backup
Yell to bystanders: "You! Call 911! You! Find an AED!" Point at people specifically. Crowds freeze without direction.
Step 4: Check Breathing
Look for chest rise, listen for breaths, feel for air on your cheek. Do this for no more than 10 seconds. Gasping doesn't count as breathing.
Critical: If they're breathing normally but unconscious, put them in recovery position (on side). Never do CPR on someone who's breathing!
Step 5: Chest Compressions
Kneel beside them. Place heel of one hand on center of chest. Place other hand on top. Lock elbows straight.
Push hard and fast:
- Depth: At least 2 inches (5 cm)
- Rate: 100-120 beats per minute (think "Stayin' Alive" by Bee Gees)
- Let chest fully recoil between pushes
Step 6: Rescue Breaths (If Trained)
After 30 compressions: Tilt head, lift chin. Pinch nose shut. Seal your mouth over theirs. Blow for 1 second until chest rises. Repeat twice.
Truth time? In my soccer field emergency, I skipped breaths. Hands-only CPR is better than nothing if you're untrained or uncomfortable with mouth-to-mouth.
Special Situations: Kids and Water Cases
How do you perform CPR on children? Mostly same as adults, with three critical differences:
| Technique | Adults | Children (1+ years) | Infants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compression Depth | 2+ inches | 2 inches | 1.5 inches |
| Hand Placement | Two hands | One or two hands | Two fingers |
| Breath Ratio | 30:2 | 30:2 (15:2 if alone) | 30:2 (15:2 if alone) |
| Call First or CPR First? | Call first | CPR first | CPR first |
Drowning victims need extra care. Roll them face-up supporting neck. Start rescue breaths immediately before compressions if they're not breathing. Water in lungs? Doesn't matter – get oxygen flowing.
Equipment That Makes a Difference
While bare hands work, these tools help:
| Tool | Purpose | My Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket Mask | Barrier for rescue breaths | Worth the $10 - prevents disease transmission |
| AED (Automated External Defibrillator) | Shocks heart back into rhythm | Modern ones talk you through everything |
| CPR Feedback Device | Measures compression depth/rate | Overpriced for civilians but great for training |
Fun fact: Most airport AEDs now have pediatric pads. Don't hesitate to use one on a child if that's all you have.
CPR Myths That Drive Instructors Crazy
After teaching hundreds of classes, here's what makes me facepalm:
- "You'll get sued!" - Good Samaritan laws protect helpers in all 50 states
- "Must do mouth-to-mouth" - Hands-only CPR works nearly as well for adults
- "Check for pulse first" - Untrained people waste critical time doing this
- "It always works like movies" - Most victims don't instantly wake up
The worst one? "Women need gentler compressions." Absolute nonsense. Ribs break regardless of gender – focus on proper depth.
Real Talk: The Emotional Stuff Nobody Prepares You For
That first time you hear ribs crack? You'll never forget it. Feels like stepping on twigs. My hands froze mid-compression until someone yelled "Keep going!"
Here's what they don't teach in certification classes:
- It's physically exhausting - you'll be drenched in sweat in 2 minutes
- Victims often vomit during compressions
- You might cry afterward (totally normal)
- Even successful CPR often ends with brain damage
Still worth it? Every time. As my ER nurse friend says: "Dead is permanent. Brain damage? We can work with that."
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
How hard should I push during CPR?
Harder than you think. Two inches minimum. If you're not exhausted after one minute, you're not pushing hard enough.
Can you do CPR on someone with a pulse?
Never! Unless they're not breathing. Pulse without breathing? Do rescue breaths only every 5-6 seconds.
What if I forget the ratio?
Just do continuous compressions. Better to do something than nothing while you panic-remember.
How do you perform CPR during COVID?
Place cloth/towel over mouth. Do hands-only CPR. Skip breaths unless you have a mask.
When can I stop CPR?
Only when: EMS takes over, you're too exhausted, the scene becomes unsafe, or the person starts breathing normally.
Keeping Skills Sharp: My Unpopular Opinion
Those 2-year certification renewals? Barely enough. I practice on my bathroom scale quarterly - you need at least 100 lbs of pressure for adults. Better yet:
- Take a refresher every 6 months (many fire departments offer free ones)
- Download a metronome app for compression rhythm practice
- Teach CPR to three friends - teaching reinforces learning
Look, I get it. Learning how do you perform CPR isn't fun. It's sweaty, stressful, and frankly gross sometimes. But that stranger at the mall? That's someone's parent. Or child. Or best friend.
Final thought: You'll never regret knowing how do you perform CPR properly. You might regret not learning.
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