What Is The Correct Resuscitation Technique To Save A Life

CPR is the abbreviated form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR is a First Aid technique used globally to provide artificial external chest compressions and rescue breaths to someone not breathing correctly or whose heart has stopped beating.

What Does DRSABCD Mean In CPR 

DRSABCD is a mnemonic memory trick for providing CPR in the correct order. Using the DRSABCD protocols ensures your safety as a First Aid Responder and the safety of anyone you are providing with First Aid.

The Australian Resuscitation Council has the following DRSABCD guidelines accessible via the hyperlink.

D- DANGER Check for hazards surrounding the scene and ensure the safety of yourself and the person requiring First Aid.

R- RESPONSE Identify what response is required by you to provide the appropriate First Aid for the situation. Is the person conscious and responsive? Do they respond to the sound of your voice even if they cannot speak? Are they entirely non-responsive?

S- SIGNAL OTHERS Dial 000 or call for any untrained bystanders or a passer-by to give assistance and call an ambulance while you start to perform CPR. Once help has been contacted, alternate CPR between First Aiders to prevent exhaustion.

A- AIRWAY Open the mouth, chin lift and head tilt to check the airway is clear of any obstructions in the mouth or block the airway and remove them with your fingers, clearing the airway to begin CPR.

B- BREATHING If the person is not breathing, begin CPR.

C- COMPRESSIONS Begin CPR by compressing the chest 30 times and giving 2 breaths of air to the ideal ratio of 120 compressions a minute. That is almost the same beats per minute as a techno house track. Globally, the Bee Gees song appropriately named Stayin’ Alive is the perfect song to hum for a First Aid provider to maintain the ideal cadence and rhythm.

D- DEFIBRILLATION If an automated external defibrillator abbreviated to AED or ‘Defib machine’ is available, follow the automated voice instructions on where and how to place the pads on the bare chest as it guides you through the procedure step by step. 

When Do I Start To Give CPR

CPR should begin as soon as possible after clearing the DRS part of the mnemonic.

CPR involves giving the person emergency externally applied cardiovascular care using the resuscitation science called chest compressions and rescue breaths, also called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Compressions enable the CPR giver to circulate blood and oxygen artificially in the body by acting as an external beating heart and keeping the brain and vital organs alive.

Click this link to see the Royal Life Saving Australia video demonstration of CPR, or copy and paste the link https://youtu.be/RMd7OB_WTeU into your search engine bar.

Why Are There Different CPR Techniques For Different Age Groups

CPR is the same process for all age groups, but it is delivered in slightly different ways suited to the lung and body size of the person needing CPR. An infant or toddler does not need as much air to fill their lungs as an adult requires, and over-inflating the lungs can cause the stomach to aspirate, resulting in a fatality that could have been avoided.

Likewise, a baby and a child don’t require the chest to be compressed to the same depth as an adult. Infants have fragile bones that break easily, and the ideal pressure needed to massage their heart using compressions is significantly less than the pressure required to compress an adult chest.

There are three levels of CPR with different pressure and air volume requirements.

• Adult
• Child
• Infant

How To Perform CPR On An Adult

To carry out chest compressions:

1. Place the patient on their back and kneel beside them.
2. Place the heel of your hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the centre of the person’s chest. Place your other hand on top of the first hand and interlock your fingers.
3. Position yourself above the patient’s chest.
4. Using your body weight (not just your arms) and keeping your arms straight, press straight down on their chest by one-third of the chest depth.
5. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is one compression.

Give rescue breaths (mouth-to-mouth):

1. Open the person’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of the head and your other hand under the chin. Chin lift to tilt the head back to the airways is straight.
2. Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
3. Open the person’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
4. Take a breath and place your lips over the patient’s mouth, ensuring a good seal.
5. Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
6. Following the breath, look at the patient’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
7. If their chest does not rise, recheck the mouth and remove any obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted, and the chin lifted to open the airway. Check that yours, and the patient’s mouth are sealed together, and the nose is closed so air cannot easily escape. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions, then 2 breaths until:

• the person recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing, or talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
• you can’t continue because you are exhausted; or
• the ambulance arrives, and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Doing CPR is very tiring, so, if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life.

How To perform CPR — children over one (1) year

Use these instructions only if the child’s chest is too small for you to use both hands to do chest compressions. Otherwise, use the instructions for adult CPR above.

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about performing CPR on a child, or read the DRSABCD action plan and step-by-step instructions below.

To carry out chest compressions on a child:

1. Place the child on their back and kneel beside them.
2. Place the heel of one hand on the lower half of the breastbone, in the centre of the child’s chest (the child’s size will determine if you do CPR with 1 hand or 2 hands).
3. Position yourself above the child’s chest.
4. Keeping your arm or arms straight, press straight down on their chest by one-third of the chest depth.
5. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is one compression.

To give mouth-to-mouth to a child:

1. Open the child’s airway by placing one hand on the forehead or top of the head and your other hand under the chin to tilt the head back.
2. Pinch the soft part of the nose closed with your index finger and thumb.
3. Open the child’s mouth with your thumb and fingers.
4. Take a breath and place your lips over the child’s mouth, ensuring a good seal.
5. Blow steadily into their mouth for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
6. Following the breath, look at the child’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled. Maintain the head tilt and chin lift position.
7. If their chest does not rise, recheck the mouth and remove any obstructions. Make sure the head is tilted, and the chin lifted to open the airway. Check that yours, and the child’s mouth are sealed together, and the nose is closed so air cannot easily escape. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions, then 2 breaths until:

• The child recovers – they start moving, breathing normally, coughing, or talking — then put them in the recovery position; or
• you can’t continue because you are exhausted; or
• The ambulance arrives, and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop.

Doing CPR is very tiring, so, if possible, with minimal interruption, swap between doing mouth-to-mouth and compressions so you can keep going with effective compressions.

If you can’t give breaths, doing compressions only without stopping may still save a life.

How To Perform CPR — Babies Under One (1) Year

Watch this video from Royal Life Saving Australia about how to perform CPR on a baby, or read the DRSABCD action plan and step-by-step instructions below.

To carry out chest compressions on a baby:

1. Lie the baby/infant on their back.
2. Place two fingers on the lower half of the breastbone in the middle of the chest and press down by one-third of the depth of the chest (you may need to use one hand to do CPR, depending on the infant’s size).
3. Release the pressure. Pressing down and releasing is one compression.

To give mouth-to-mouth to a baby:

1. Tilt the baby/infant’s head back very slightly.
2. Lift the baby/infant’s chin up, and be careful not to rest your hands on their throat because this will stop the air from getting to their lungs from mouth-to-mouth.
3. Take a breath and cover the baby/infant’s mouth and nose with your mouth, ensuring a good seal.
4. Blow steadily for about 1 second, watching for the chest to rise.
5. Following the breath, look at the baby/infant’s chest and watch for the chest to fall. Listen and feel for signs that air is being expelled.
6. If their chest does not rise, recheck their mouth and nose and remove any obstructions. Make sure their head is in a neutral position to open the airway and that there is a tight seal around the mouth and nose with no air escaping. Take another breath and repeat.

Give 30 compressions followed by 2 breaths, known as “30:2”. Aim for 5 sets of 30:2 in about 2 minutes (if only doing compressions about 100 – 120 compressions per minute).

Keep going with 30 compressions to 2 breaths until:

• the baby/infant recovers — they start moving, breathing normally, coughing, crying, or responding — then put them in the recovery position (see above); or
• it is impossible for you to continue because you are exhausted; or
• the ambulance arrives, and a paramedic takes over or tells you to stop

Using An Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Using an AED can also save someone’s life. You do not need to be trained to use an AED since the AED will guide you with voice prompts on how to use it safely.

1. Attach the AED and follow the prompts.
2. Continue CPR until the AED is turned on and the pads are attached.
3. The AED pads should be placed as instructed and should not be touching each other.
4. Make sure no one touches the person while the shock is being delivered.
5. You can use a standard adult AED and pads on children over 8 years old. Children younger than 8 should ideally have paediatric pads and an AED with a paediatric capability. If these aren’t available, then use the adult AED.
6. Do not use an AED on children under 1 year of age.

Learn First Aid And Get CPR Training

We recommend you book your place on the next FACE nationally accredited First Aid training course in a venue near you. Update your existing skills with the latest practices and procedures. Bring a friend or loved one to share the experience. You could save a life, and it might be your own with the right First Aid skills and knowledge. Please stop by our FACE Blog page and read up on other First Aid and Medically related topics of interest for inspiration and motivation. Use them to gauge how much First Aid you possess and where you would benefit from gaining First Aid certification.