Yes. A person can be unresponsive and still have a pulse. Chest compressions should only be done on someone who does not have a pulse. *
However, one should not look for a pulse for longer than 10 seconds, so as not to waste time. If no pulse is found after 10 seconds, start chest compressions immediately.
* the only exception to this rule is that CPR can be done on an infant or child whose heart rate is less than 60. This is usually done only by health care providers or those certified in PALS.
Yes; if you are doing compressions breaths should be given as well.
Generally, you need to give compressions at a rate of 100 per minute to fully circulate the blood. That's depressing 1/3 of the depth of the chest for adults, and 1/4 of the chest depth for infants and children.
30 compressions to 2 breaths. 2nd Answer: Perhaps not . . . the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have approved and recommended the so-called "hands-only" CPR. You give chest compressions in the standard position, but you sort of bounce up and down on the patient's chest - perhaps 40 compressions or more per minute. You are doing it at the right rate if you are naturally bouncing up and down, like you would if you were giving chest compressions to a rubber ball. This method results in a good balance between doing the patient some good, while minimizing your fatigue. There are no breaths given in hands-only CPR.
You should try and aim for at least 100 compressions per minute when doing CPR.
You should try and aim for at least 100 compressions per minute when doing CPR.
You should try and aim for at least 100 compressions per minute when doing CPR.
If you're doing CPR on your own - You would perform two inflations, followed by 5 chest compressions - then check for vital signs. Repeat the actions until the patient is breathing on their own.
30 compressions to 2 breaths. 2nd Answer: Perhaps not . . . the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross have approved and recommended the so-called "hands-only" CPR. You give chest compressions in the standard position, but you sort of bounce up and down on the patient's chest - perhaps 40 compressions or more per minute. You are doing it at the right rate if you are naturally bouncing up and down, like you would if you were giving chest compressions to a rubber ball. This method results in a good balance between doing the patient some good, while minimizing your fatigue. There are no breaths given in hands-only CPR.
The aim of chest compressions is to squash the heart under the chest. Every compression 'squashes' the heart, this causes all of the blood to be pumped out of the heart and off round the body, taking the oxygen with it (assuming you're doing the breaths as well). You then come back up, allowing the heart to refill before you compress again. In this way you are reproducing a heartbeat for someone who doesn't have one.
2 breaths to 30 compressions
Conventionally, it was recommended that those who perform CPR on those who need it should do both chest compressions and rescue-breathing. Hands-only CPR involves only chest compressions and no rescue-breathing. Hands-only CPR is coming more into favor and has been shown to be just as effective as the former.
These are the most recent PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) Guidelines: When there is only one rescuer, which is often the case in CPR done outside the hospital, the chest compression to rescue breaths ratio is 30:2 (30 chest compressions, 2 breaths) just like it is for an adult. When there are two rescuers, as in, one person that can do compressions and one that can do breaths, the ratio changes to 15:2. In a hospital setting, when the infant or child is intubated (breathing tube down the throat), chest compressions are done continuously without interruption, while another provider at the same time gives rescue breaths with an ambu-bag down the breathing tube, at a rate of one breath every 6 to 8 seconds. This last method would only ever be done by health care providers.