Hands-only CPR and using an AED

What to do

1. Check the scene, then the person. Tap their shoulder and shout, “Are you OK?”
2. Call 911 if they don’t respond and aren’t breathing normally (gasping is not normal breathing). Put the phone on speaker. The dispatcher can coach you.
3. Send someone for an AED (automated external defibrillator). Many public places have one. If you’re alone, call 911 first, then start CPR.
4. Place your hands. Kneel beside the person, who should be on their back on a firm surface. Put the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, and your other hand on top.
5. Push hard and fast. Press straight down at least 2 inches (5 cm), but not more than about 2.4 inches (6 cm). Push 100 to 120 times a minute — about the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive.”
6. Let the chest come all the way back up between pushes. Keep your elbows straight and use your body weight.
7. Don’t stop except to let the AED check the heart. Keep going until the person starts breathing, an AED or help takes over, or you are too exhausted to continue. If someone else is there, switch every 2 minutes.

Using an AED

1. Turn it on and follow the voice prompts.
2. Bare the chest. Wipe it dry if it’s wet. Remove medicine patches.
3. Attach the pads as shown in the pictures on the pads.
4. Stand clear while it checks the heart. Make sure no one is touching the person.
5. Push the shock button if it tells you to. Some AEDs shock on their own.
6. Restart chest compressions right away after the shock, or if no shock is advised. Follow the AED’s prompts.

Babies, children, and drowning victims

Hands-only CPR is for teens and adults who suddenly collapse. For babies and children, and for anyone who drowned or had a breathing emergency (such as an overdose), CPR that includes rescue breaths works best if you are trained. If you aren’t trained or aren’t comfortable, do chest compressions anyway — something is better than nothing. The 911 dispatcher can guide you.

Get trained

A short CPR and AED class builds confidence. The American Heart Association and American Red Cross offer classes in most areas.