Responding to an Unresponsive Person: Step‑by‑Step CPR Guide

Assess and Act: The Cardiac Arrest Algorithm

Follow these steps immediately when you find someone unresponsive. Early CPR doubles or triples survival chances.

1. Check Responsiveness – “Shake and Shout”

• Tap the person’s shoulders firmly and shout, “Are you okay? Can you hear me?”
• If no response (no movement, no sound, no eye opening), proceed instantly.

2. Call for Help & Get an AED

• Shout for nearby help: “Someone call 911 and bring an AED!”
• If alone, call 911 yourself (put on speaker) before starting CPR.

3. Check Breathing – Look, Listen, Feel (≤10 seconds)

• Watch for chest rise.
• Listen for breath sounds.
• Feel for air on your cheek.
• Absent or only gasping (agonal breathing) = not breathing normally.

4. Start CPR – Chest Compressions First

1. Hand placement: Heel of one hand on the center of the chest (lower half of sternum), other hand on top, fingers interlaced.
2. Body position: Shoulders directly over hands, arms straight.
3. Compress: Push hard and fast – at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep, rate 100‑120/min.
4. Recoil: Allow full chest recoil between compressions.
5. Cycle: 30 compressions → 2 rescue breaths (if trained). If untrained, do continuous compressions.

5. Rescue Breaths (If Trained)

• Open airway with head‑tilt/chin‑lift.
• Pinch nose, seal mouth over theirs, give 2 breaths (each 1 second, watching chest rise).
• Resume compressions immediately.

6. Use AED as Soon as Available

• Turn on AED, follow voice prompts.
• Attach pads to bare chest (upper right, lower left).
• Stand clear during analysis/shock.
• Resume CPR immediately after shock (or if no shock advised).

7. Continue Until

• Person moves, breathes normally, or opens eyes.
• EMS arrives and takes over.
• You are physically exhausted.
• Scene becomes unsafe.

Key Points

• Push hard, push fast, don’t stop.
• Minimize interruptions – every pause reduces perfusion.
• Gasping is NOT normal breathing – treat as cardiac arrest.
• Any CPR is better than no CPR.