CPR Guidelines - how to give artificial respiration and heart massage

CPR, or cardio pulmonary resuscitation, is the technique used to keep a person's heart beating whilst awaiting profesisonal help.

CPR is often twinned with artificial respiration, the "kiss of life".

The basics to follow are these:

1. Upon discovering the casualty, check the area for danger before running blindly in towards them. Only approach if it is safe.
2. Speak to the casualty and pat them firmly on the shoulders to elicit a response.
3. If no response, do not attempt to move the casualty unless the position they are in is compromising their airway.
4. Clear the airway by placing two fingers on the point of the chin and tilting the head back in a straight line. Do not roll the head on the neck. If the casualty is lying on their side or front, the head will naturally be facing to the side. Leave it in this position and tilt it backwards, as normal.
5. Check for breathing. Place your ear a few inches from the nose and mouth, looking along the chest. Listen and feel for breath on your ear, and look for the rise and fall of the chest.
6. If the casualty is unconscious but breathing, put them in the recovery position, check breathing again, and then go or call for help.
7. If the casualty is NOT breathing, go straight into chest compressions and rescue breaths. Unless you are very experienced at checking for a pulse at wrist or neck, do not waste time searching for it. Inexperienced people often think there is no pulse when there is, so do not let this slow down your next move.
8. If the casualty is not lying on their back, you must move them into that position in order to perform effective CPR. When moving the casualty, try to keep spinal movement to a minimum, but remember that getting them breathing and their heart pumping is the most important thing.
9. Once the casualty is lying on their back, immediately perform 30 chest compressions at a rate of two compressions per second. Kneeling to the side of the casualty's chest, place one hand on top of the other and lace the fingers together. Keeping the arms straight and the elbows locked, lean over the casualty and place the heel of your lower hand two fingers' width above the bottom of the sternum. Push down 3-4 inches, release and repeat. After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths. Tilt the chin up with two fingers, pinch closed the nostrils, make a seal over the casualty's mouth with your mouth, and exhale sharply for half a second, pull away and watch the chest deflate, repeat for the second breath.
10. Repeat 30 compressions and 2 breaths for two minutes or until the casualty begins breathing for themself. After two minutes, call or go for help. After getting help, check Airway, Breathing and Circulation again. If there is no breathing, continue compressions and breaths until help arrives or until you are too tired to carry on.