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CPR
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Blood Heart Circulation

CPR

Knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save a life when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest or stops breathing.

When someone's blood flow or breathing stops, permanent brain damage or death can occur within minutes. CPR is an emergency procedure used to maintain blood flow until medical help arrives.

Steps for Sudden Cardiac Arrest

  • Call 911.
  • Locate an AED: If others are present, have them find an automated external defibrillator (AED), which can restore the heart's normal rhythm.
  • Position the person: Ensure they are lying on their back on a firm surface.
  • Hands-only CPR: If you are untrained, perform "hands-only" CPR for teens or adults by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. This is not recommended for children.
  • Trained CPR: If you have training, use chest compressions, clear the airway, and perform rescue breathing to get oxygen to the lungs. Repeat training every two years to keep skills current.
  • Use the AED: Apply the device as soon as it is available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hands‑only CPR (compressions only) is acceptable for untrained adults and is better than doing nothing. If you are trained and feel comfortable, you can add rescue breaths using a barrier device (mask or face shield) to reduce infection risk. If you lack a barrier, you may still give breaths, but prioritize rapid, high‑quality compressions.
heart attack usually causes chest pain, shortness of breath, or discomfort that develops over minutes to hours, and the person remains conscious and breathing. Cardiac arrest is an abrupt loss of pulse and breathing; the person collapses, is unresponsive, and shows no normal breathing. If you’re unsure, treat it as cardiac arrest—call 911 and begin CPR.
For adults, compress the chest at least 2 inches (5 cm) deep at a rate of 100‑120 compressions per minute. For children (age 1‑ puberty), aim for about 2 inches (5 cm) or one‑third the chest depth, also at 100‑120 per minute. For infants, use two fingers (or both hands) to compress about 1.5 inches (4 cm) at the same rate.
No. Begin chest compressions immediately. Every second counts, and high‑quality compressions are the most critical first step. If an AED is nearby, retrieve it as soon as you can while continuing compressions, or shout for help to bring one.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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