If you check a person and find that he or she is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping, begin CPR immediately, starting with chest compressions. 

 

Giving CPR to an Adult 

First, make sure the person is lying face-up on a firm, flat surface. For example, if the person is on a soft surface like a sofa or bed, quickly move him or her to the floor before you begin. Kneel beside the person. 

Position your hands. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the person’s chest on the person’s breastbone (sternum).

 

If you feel the notch at the end of the breastbone, move your hand slightly toward the person’s head. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlace your fingers or hold them up so that your fingers are not on the person’s chest. If you have arthritis in your hands, you can grasp the wrist of the hand positioned on the chest with your other hand instead.

 

The person’s clothing should not interfere with finding the proper hand position or your ability to give effective compressions. If it does, loosen or remove enough clothing to allow deep compressions in the center of the person’s chest. 

 

Give a set of 30 compressions. Position your body so that your shoulders are directly over your hands. This will let you push on the chest using a straight up-and-down motion, which moves the most blood with each push and is also less tiring. Keeping your arms straight, push down at least 2 inches, and then let the chest completely return to its normal position. Push hard and push fast! You want to go at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. As you give compressions, count out loud up to 30. Maintain a smooth, steady down-and-up rhythm and do not pause between compressions. 

 

Give a set of 2 rescue breaths. Once you have given 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths. First, open the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver. Place one of your hands on the person’s forehead and two fingers of your other hand on the bony part of the person’s chin. Tilt the person’s head back and lift the chin. For an adult, tilt the head to a past-neutral position . If possible, use a CPR breathing barrier when you are giving rescue breaths, but do not delay rescue breaths to find a breathing barrier or learn how to use it. Pinch the person’s nose shut. Take a normal breath, make a complete seal over the person’s mouth with your mouth, and blow into the person’s mouth to give the first rescue breath. Take another breath, make a seal, and give the second rescue breath. Each rescue breath should last about 1 second and make the person’s chest rise. After you finish giving 2 rescue breaths, return to giving compressions as quickly as possible. The process of giving 2 rescue breaths and getting back to compressions should take less than 10 seconds. Never give more than 2 rescue breaths per set.

Once you begin CPR, continue giving sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until: 

You notice an obvious sign of life, such as movement. (If the person shows an obvious sign of life, stop CPR, place the person in the recovery position and continue to monitor the person’s condition until EMS personnel take over.) 

An AED is ready to use and no other trained responders are available to assist you with the AED.