CPR — Not Breathing
Adult is unconscious and not breathing normally.
🚨 Call an ambulance immediately, then follow the steps below.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check responsiveness
Tap their shoulders and shout. If no response, shout for help and tell someone to call emergency services and bring a defibrillator (AED) if available.
- 2
Open the airway
Tilt their head back gently with one hand on the forehead. Lift the chin with two fingers of your other hand.
- 3
Check breathing for 10 seconds
Look at the chest, listen, and feel for breath on your cheek. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing — treat as not breathing.
- 4
Start chest compressions
Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, other hand on top. Push hard and fast — 5–6 cm deep, at 100–120 beats per minute. Think of the beat of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees.
- 5
30 compressions, then 2 breaths
After 30 compressions, give 2 rescue breaths if you are trained and willing. If not, give continuous compressions only — that alone keeps blood flowing.
- 6
Don't stop
Keep going until emergency services arrive, an AED is attached and instructs you to stop, or the person starts breathing normally. Swap with someone every 2 minutes if possible — it is exhausting.
🛑 Do NOT
- Do NOT delay starting compressions to find a pulse — push first.
- Do NOT be afraid to push hard. Cracked ribs are recoverable; cardiac arrest without CPR is not.
- Do NOT stop unless one of the conditions in step 6 happens.
- For a child or baby, use only one hand (child) or two fingers (baby), and push to one-third of chest depth.
📞 Call an ambulance if…
- Always — call emergency services the moment you find the person unresponsive.
- If you are alone with a child, do 1 minute of CPR first before leaving to call.
This guide is educational content — not medical advice. Always call emergency services first. Sources: Red Cross, American Heart Association, NHS England.