Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
1.
Shake gently and ask, “Are you OK?”
2.
If there is no response, shout for help.
3.
Position the victim.
Roll the victim onto his or her back on a firm, flat surface. Roll the body as a
unit, supporting the head and neck. Try to keep the head at the same level as the heart.
4.
Position yourself.
Kneel next to the victim, halfway between the chest and head.
5.
Check the ABCs:
• Open the airway. Use the “head-tilt/chin-lift” technique.
• Breathing. Kneel alongside the victim and check to see whether he or she is breath-
ing. Look, listen, and feel for signs of breathing.
• Circulation. Use one hand to keep the head tilted. With the fingers of the other hand
(not the thumb), feel between the windpipe and the neck muscle for a pulse at the ca-
rotid artery. Check for 5 to 10 seconds. If the victim has no pulse, begin CPR.
Time is
critical!
6.
Call EMS.
If possible, send someone else to call EMS (emergency medical services). Alert EMS
to the status of the ABCs.
7.
Position your hands.
Using your fingers, locate the notch at the bottom of the ribs where they join
the sternum (breastbone), a few inches straight above the belly button. Place your index finger on
the notch and your middle finger right above it. Using your middle finger and index fingers as a
spacer, place the heel of your hand two fingers above the notch, at the center of the breastbone.
Remove your two fingers from above the notch, and place the palm of this hand on top of the one
on the breastbone.
8.
Chest compressions.
Witharmsstraightandshouldersdirectlyoveryourhands,lockyourelbows
and lean over the victim to use your body weight to compress the victim's breastbone 1½ to 2
inches. Keep your fingers raised to compress the breastbone and not the ribs. Compress the chest
at a rate of 80 to 100 compressions per minute, stopping every 15 compressions to open the air-
way and give two rescue breaths. Count out loud with each compression so you do not lose track
of the number. Release the pressure, but do not lift your hands between compressions or other-
wise allow your hand position to shift. Don't let the heel of your hand slide down over the tip of
the breastbone, and keep your fingers away from the chest.
Caution
: Excessively forceful or mis-
placed compressions can cause fractures and injuries to internal organs. [
Special instructions for
children and babies:
Babies require very little force. Use light pressure with two fingers at about
100 times per minute. Small children will usually only require medium pressure from the heel of
one hand, not two as used foradults. Use cycles ofone breath and five compressions for10cycles
between pulse checks. Depress the child's breast 1 to 1½ inches per compression. Compress an
infant's chest only ½ to 1 inch per compression.]
