How to perform CPR and possibly save a life

If someone were to collapse, would you know what to do?

Seventy percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. It’s usually up to a family member or friend to perform CPR and possibly save a cardiac victim.

If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t panic. The first thing to do is call 9-1-1.

El Paso firefighter Valerie Morales says the next steps are fairly simple:

“Tap to see if they’re awake or alert. If no response, lift their head like this, check their breathing and pulse. If you see nothing, you start CPR. Make sure they’re on a flat surface. With one hand, place the heel in the center of the chest, other hand on top of that. Compress hard and fast with 100-120 compressions per minute.”

Morales says to do this until help arrives. She says to keep with the 100-120 beats per minute, she finds it helpful to compress to the beat of the BeeGee’s song, “Stayin’ Alive.”

Hands-only CPR is fairly new and it’s proven to be just as effective as conventional CPR.

Captain Wayne Jones with the EPFD says if someone is trained to start hands-only CPR, it’ll improve survivability 2-3 times.

He says the sooner kids learn CPR, the better. Even middle schoolers and high school students are encouraged to learn this and other life-saving techniques. To sign up for American Red Cross lifesaving skill classes, go to this story on our website – KVIA.com.

Imagine being the person who is able to make a difference, and be the reason someone survives!

For more information, click here: http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr