Study Guide

Healthcare Provider CPR


CPR for All Motionless Victims


  • Determine unresponsiveness - shout and shake
  • Open the airway - head tilt/chin lift or modified jaw thrust with suspected trauma
  • Check for breathing - look, listen and feel for adequate breathing
    • If breathing - put patient in recovery position
    • If no breathing - give 2 normal breaths - each breath lasting 1 second
      • If 1st breath does not go in - re-tilt head and try another breath
      • If 2nd breath does not go in - assume obstructed airway - do continuous cycles 30:2 look in mouth
      • If breath goes in - check carotid or femoral pulse no more than 10 seconds
  • If definite pulse - rescue breathe
  • If no pulse - begin chest compressions, rate 100/minute, 5 cycles 30:2 in 2 minutes

Differences Based on Age


Action Adult >= 8 Years Child 1-Puberty Onset Infant < 1 Year
Calling 911 when alone Unwitnessed Arrest - Call 911 after victim found unresponsive
Witnessed Arrest - Call 911 immediately
Asphyxial Arrest (drowning, drug overdose, injury) - 2 minutes 30:2 then call 911		 Unwitnessed Arrest - 2 minutes 30:2 then call 911
Witnessed Arrest - Call 911 then perform CPR		 Unwitnessed Arrest - 2 minutes 30:2 then call 911
Witnessed Arrest - Call 911 then perform CPR
Rescue Breathing One breath every 5-6 seconds One breath every 3-5 seconds One breath every 3-5 seconds
Rescue Breathing with Advanced Airway 8-10 breaths / minute (approximately 1 breath every 6 to 8 seconds) 8-10 breaths / minute (approximately 1 breath every 6 to 8 seconds) 8-10 breaths / minute (approximately 1 breath every 6 to 8 seconds)
Pulse Check Carotid/femoral Carotid/femoral Brachial
Compression Location 2 hands on sternum, between nipples 1-2 hands on sternum, between nipples 2 fingers on sternum just below nipples
Depth of Compression 1 1/2 - 2 inches, allow complete recoil 1/3 - 1/2 depth of chest, allow complete recoil 1/3 - 1/2 depth of chest, allow complete recoil
2 Rescuer Ratio 30:2 15:2 15:2
2 thumbs encircling hands
Conscious Choking Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) Alternate 5 back blows, 5 chest compressions
AED Use Adult AED
Unwitnessed arrest
  • Call 911
  • 5 cycles 30:2 followed by 1 shock
  • AED reassess
Witnessed arrest
  • Call 911
  • 1 shock followed by 5 cycles 30:2
  • AED reassess
 Child AED
Unwitnessed arrest
  • Call 911
  • 5 cycles 30:2 followed by 1 shock
  • AED reassess
Witnessed arrest
  • Call 911
  • 1 shock followed by 5 cycles 30:2
  • AED reassess
 No