CPR Instruction Sign With 1/4 Inch Lettering - 24 x 30 Inches on Styrene Plastic

Perform CPR Yes You Can!

Basic Life Support for Adults and Children (Ages 1-8)

1. Call 911

   If you are alone with a child victim, give two minutes of CPR before calling 911. Check the victim for unresponsiveness. If there is noresponse, have someone CALL 911 and return to the victim. In most locations, the emergency dispatcher can assist you with CPR instructions.

   For unresponsive children, the lone rescuer should perform 5 cycles (about 2 minutes of CPR before phoning 911).

2. Pump

   Adult

   Position heel of one hand in the center of the chest with second hand on top.

   Firmly push down at least 2 inches on the chest 30 times.

   Child

   Position heel of one hand in the center of the chest with/without second hand on top.

   Firmly push down at least 1/3 to 1/2 depth of chest 30 times.

   If the victim is not breathing normally, begin chest compressions. Push down on the chest at least 2 inches for adults and 1/3 to 1/2 depth of chest for children ages 1-8. Pump 30 times right between the nipples. Push hard and push fast by compressing the chest at a rate of at least 100/minute. Allow chest to recoil (return to normal position) completely after each compression.

3. Continue Compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2 is recommended.

   Give two effective breaths. If unable or unwilling to give breaths continue to give compression.

   Continue with two breaths and 30 pumps until help arrives.

   NOTE: This ratio is the same for one-person and two-person CPR. In two-person CPR, the person pumping the chest stops while the other gives mouth-to-mouth breathing.

First Aid for Choking Children 1-8 Years Old

When in a pool or shallow water

1. From behind, wrap the arms around your victim's waist, placing the thumb side of the fist against the victim's abdomen.

2. With the other hand, grab the fist and press into the abdomen with a quick upward thrust.

When the victim is lying on the ground

1. Place the victim on her back. Turn her face to one side to drain water from her mouth.

2. Begin CPR.

If the adult or child is or becomes unresponsive, perform CPR. If you see an object in the throat or mouth, remove it.

Basic Life Support for Infants (Less than 1 year old)

1. Shout and Tap

   Shout and gently tap the infant on the shoulder. If there is no response, position the infant on his or her back.

2. Give 30 Compressions

   If no regular breathing, give 30 effective chest compressions at the rate of at least 100 per minute. Position your 3rd and 4th fingers in center of chest, just below nipple line. Press down about at least 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the chest. Push hard and fast and allow chest to recoil completely.

3. Open the Airway

   Open the airway by tilting head and lifting the chin. Do not tilt the head too far back.

4. Give 2 Breaths

   If the infant is NOT breathing regularly, give 2 small gentle breaths. Cover the infant's mouth and nose with your mouth. Each breath should be 1 second long. You should see the infant's chest rise with each breath.

5. Repeat

   Repeat with cycles of 2 breaths and 30 compressions. After two minutes of care, call 911 and continue giving breaths and compressions.

Training Courses

CPR training courses are offered by the American Heart Association (for training courses near, you call 1-800-AHAUSA1), the American Red Cross, and by manylocal Fire Departments.

Definitions

Unresponsiveness:

During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood, the blood pressure falls to zero and the pulse disappears. Within 10 seconds of cardiac arrest theperson loses consciousness and becomes unresponsive. Sometimes a person in cardiac arrest may make grunting, gasping or snoring type breathing sounds for acouple of minutes. DO NOT be confused by this abnormal type of breathing.

Pushing on the Chest

In general, the chest should be pushed down at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Sometimes you may hear a cracking sound. Do not be alarmed. The sound is caused bycartilage or ribs cracking. Even if this occurs, the damage is not serious. The risk of delaying CPR or not doing CPR is far greater than a broken rib.

Abmnormal Breathing

A person in cardiac arrest may have abnormal breathing for a couple minutes. This is called 'agonal respiration' and is the result of the brain's breathingcenter sending out signals even though circulation has ceased. The key point is that the abnormal breathing may sound like grunting, gasping or snoring.It disappears in 2 to 3 minutes. If you see this type of breathing, DO NOT delay CPR. The person desperately needs air and only you can provide it.

Complications of CPR

Vomiting is the most frequently encountered complication of CPR. If the victim starts to vomit, turn the head to the side and try to sweepout or wipe off the vomit. Continue with CPR.

Checking the Pulse

The pulse check is no longer taught or expected of laypersons. Instead, if you see no signs of life (defined as breathing normally, coughing or moving), youshould begin to pump on the chest. Please note that the pulse check is still expected of health care providers.