How to perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) | First Aid | iHASCO

Please note:
This video was recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic. For most up to date advice, please check most up to date information: resus.org.uk/covid-19-resources/covid-19-resour…

If your casualty is unresponsive and they’ve stopped breathing or they’re not breathing normally, you should NOT put them into the recovery position – they need to be lying on their back, so that you can give them CPR (or cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

CPR is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths. There’s usually enough oxygen in the blood to keep the brain and other organs alive for a few minutes after the heart has stopped beating, but if the heart’s not beating, the blood can’t get to them.

We demonstrate how to correctly perform CPR in both our First Aid at Work Refresher and Emergency First Aid at Work Refresher courses. To find out more about our range of first aid courses, visit our First Aid bundle:
ihasco.co.uk/courses/bundles/online-first-aid

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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

To give CPR, this is what to do:
* The casualty should be lying on their back on a firm surface. There’s no need to remove any clothing.
* Kneel beside them, level with their chest.
* Tilt their head back to keep their airway open.
* Lean over the casualty with your arms straight.
* Place the heel of one of your hands in the centre of their chest in line with their nipples
* Place the heel of your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.
* Try to keep your hands away from their ribcage, so you won’t be pressing down on the casualty's ribs.
* Keeping your arms straight, press down vertically about four to six centimetres, which is about a third of the depth of the chest.
* Release the pressure without removing your hands from their chest.

Allow their chest to come back up fully – this is one compression - before giving the next compression.

* Compress their chest 30 times at a rate of about twice per second. This is roughly the speed of the Bee Gee’s song ‘Staying Alive’.
* Give two rescue breaths.