Hands Only CPR
What is it?
Hands-Only CPR is chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people who see an adult suddenly collapse in the “out-of-hospital” setting (like at home, at work, in a park).
When performed by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as “conventional” CPR in emergencies that occur at home, work or in public.
Hands-Only CPR for adults who collapse suddenly.
Hands-Only CPR has been widely publicized by the AHA as an appropriate bystander response to adult victims of out-of-hospital, witnessed, sudden cardiac arrest. So, don’t be surprised if others at the scene of such an event are performing Hands-Only CPR, that is, CPR without breathing.
Why Do it?
CPR is a lifesaving action.
When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help.
Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That’s why the AHA has simplified things.
Your actions can only help. You can make a difference.
Don’t be afraid.
How do you do hands only CPR?
There are only two steps to remember:
1) Call 911
2) Begin providing high-quality chest compressions by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest with minimal interruptions.
Don’t stop until help or an AED arrives.
You can be a lifesaver. If you choose to help.
Give a Hand to Save Others from Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Hands-Only CPR — Facts
Sudden cardiac arrest claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year. One of the main reasons is because no one at the scene does anything to help.
In fact, less than one-third of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Getting help right away — within a few minutes — is the key to survival.
People who have a sudden cardiac arrest and don’t get help right away will probably die.
Fortunately, the American Heart Association has a new way for anyone to step in and help adults who suddenly collapse — Hands-Only CPR.
Anyone can perform Hands-Only CPR and everyone should perform it if they aren’t confident in their CPR skills or haven’t learned conventional CPR.
Hands-Only CPR is easy to remember and results in delivery of more, uninterrupted chest compressions until more advanced care arrives on the scene.
Bystanders must take action when they see someone suddenly collapse and stop breathing normally. When effective bystander CPR is given immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. Hands-Only CPR can help save lives.
Do not give Hands-Only CPR to infants and children — all infants and children who have a sudden cardiac arrest need conventional CPR.
Hands-Only CPR is NOT recommended for:
• Unresponsive infants and children
• Victims of:
– drowning
– trauma
– airway obstruction
– acute respiratory diseases
– apnea, such as associated with drug overdose
Learning conventional CPR is still recommended
A CPR course teaches you the skills needed to help those other victims. You’ll also practice performing the same two steps you’ll need for Hands-OnlyTM CPR. Typically people who have had CPR training are more confident about their skills and more likely to assist someone in a real emergency.
Even a very short CPR training program that you can do at home, like the American Heart Association’s 22-minute CPR Anytime, provides skills training and practice that can prepare you to perform high-quality chest compressions.
Hands-OnlyTM CPR scientific statement
The American Heart Association works with some of the world’s leading resuscitation scientists and medical professionals. Their continuous review of published research studies on CPR resulted in the following AHA Science Advisory, published in an April 2008 edition of the medical journal Circulation: Hands-OnlyTM (Compression-Only) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Call to Action for Bystander Response to Adults Who Experience Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
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