First Aid at Work Level 3

CPR and First Aid

Hands-only CPR

To carry out effective CPR and chest compressions;

  1. Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone at the centre of a person's chest. Generally this will be in a line between the two nipples. Place your other hand on top and interlock your fingers.
  2. Kneeling down beside the person you knees should be wide enough apart to stabilise yourself, but also in a comfortable position.
  3. Lean forward until your shoulders are above your hands and straighten your arms.
  4. With straight arms and keeping your back straight, use your body weight to press straight down into the chest to a depth of 5 to 6cm (2 to 2.5 inches).
  5. Keeping your hands connected to their chest, release the compression allowing the chest to rise back to its original position.
  6. Repeat the compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 times a minute (2 a second) until either you become exhausted, or help arrives.

When calling for an ambulance, you the operator and telephone system in place will be able to guide you through basic life-saving techniques, including how to give CPR. There are also numerous apps available on mobile phones that give great advice on CPR.

For a video demonstration of CPR, please watch the video below from The British Heart Foundation.

Visit our training wing to book onto one of our first aid courses and learn CPR here.

CPR with rescue breaths

If you have been trained in CPR, including rescue breaths, and feel confident using your skills, you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths.

If you're not completely confident, attempt hands-only CPR instead.

Adults

  1. Carry out your chest compressions as per the hands-only CPR guide above.
  2. After 30 chest compressions, give 2 effective rescue breaths.
  3. To complete an effective rescue breath, tilt the casualty's head gently back and lift the chin up with 2 fingers to open the airway. Pinch the casualty's nose and create a seal around their mouth with yours. Blow steadily and firmly into the casualty's mouth for about 1 second, ensuring that the chest rises. Give 2 of these breaths in total.
  4. Perform another 30 cycles of chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths and continue to do so until either you become exhausted or help arrives.

CPR for Children over 1 year old (nhs.uk)

  1. Open the child's airway by placing 1 hand on their forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.
  2. Pinch their nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth, and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give 5 initial rescue breaths.
  3. Place the heel of 1 hand on the centre of their chest and push down by 5cm (about 2 inches), which is approximately one-third of the chest diameter. The quality (depth) of chest compressions is very important. Use 2 hands if you can't achieve a depth of 5cm using 1 hand.
  4. After every 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 a minute, give 2 breaths.
  5. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Infants under 1 year old (nhs.uk)

  1. Open the infant's airway by placing 1 hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose.
  2. Place your mouth over the mouth and nose of the infant and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give 5 initial rescue breaths.
  3. Place 2 fingers in the middle of the chest and push down by 4cm (about 1.5 inches), which is approximately one-third of the chest diameter. The quality (depth) of chest compressions is very important. Use the heel of 1 hand if you can't achieve a depth of 4cm using the tips of 2 fingers.
  4. After 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 a minute, give 2 rescue breaths.
  5. Continue with cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

To book onto one of our first aid training courses and learn CPR go here >>

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