| Posted May 15, 2014 | By Shannon Lankford, NREMT-P | Categorized under Men's Health, Women's Health |

Two hands. Two steps. Call 911. Press hard and fast on the center of the victim's chest until help arrives.

That's all it takes to potentially save the life of someone whose heart has stopped beating.

Today's CPR is different from what many of us grew up learning. Today, we no longer emphasize the need to interchange short, quick breaths with hard, fast chest compressions. Research over the years and advancements in technology have proven two things to medical first responders:

1. A lot of people do not want to place their mouth on a complete stranger's. Even as a professional first responder, I have to agree with them. My personal feeling is unless I married you or I gave birth to you, I don't want to put my mouth on you. Fortunately we use devices that help pump oxygen into the body, but not everyone has access to them.
   
2. Repetitive chest compressions without interruption are more effective at keeping blood circulating throughout the body and providing much-needed oxygen to the brain.

I always encourage people to go through an official certification course, but don't think you're not capable or qualified to save someone's life because you're not "certified." The person whose life is on the line won't care if you carry a special card in your wallet, so please never hesitate to act if you suspect someone is experiencing cardiac arrest.

What do chest compressions do?

When you push down on the heart, which is located in the middle of the chest, you are forcing it to pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain. When you release, you are allowing the heart to fill back up with blood. When you do this repeatedly, you are simulating the heart's natural blood flow and helping it release oxygen into the brain to keep it alive.

How do I perform hands-only CPR?

Before you start chest compressions, you need to call 911. Not only will the first responders be sent to your location while you perform CPR, but 911 dispatchers are trained to assist you over the phone in case you do not know what to do or you forget your training in the heat of the moment. 

When you're ready to perform CPR, follow these steps:

• Fold your hands on top of each other and place them over the sternum, which is located in the center of the rib cage.
  
  
• Push down hard while keeping your arms straight. Compressions should be 2 inches deep. Do not be alarmed if you hear a cracking sound. That's normal.
  
  
• Try to do 100 compressions per minute. A great way to maintain the fast beat is to sing "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees (plus it's a highly appropriate song for the moment, so it's a win-win!)
  
  
• When you get tired (and you will), find someone to take your place while you regain your strength.
  
  
• Compressing the heart by hand is physically exhausting. Do not feel embarrassed if you can only go for 30 seconds. Even the most hardcore first-responders get tired.

Am I hurting the victim when I perform chest compressions?

No. When someone is in cardiac arrest, there is nothing you can do that will hurt them because they can't feel anything. I always tell the people I'm training that if I ever need CPR performed on me, I would much, much rather be alive and have a broken rib than the alternate outcome.

What if I don't perform CPR correctly?

The most important thing to remember is something is better than nothing. Poorly performed CPR is better than no CPR because the patient has zero percent chance of surviving if you don't do anything. A person who is in cardiac arrest cannot feel pain so don't think what you're doing incorrectly is harming the patient. As long as you are pressing down on the heart, you are doing what matters most.

Can I be sued by the victim or the victim's family if I break a rib or cause other injuries?

No. Although it varies state to state, all 50 states have some form of a Good Samaritan law that has been established to encourage bystanders to act quickly when witnessing an emergency and to protect them from repercussions if their actions cause injuries. Contact your local government officials if you want to learn more about how the Good Samaritan law applies to your state. 

How can I tell if the victim is in cardiac arrest or just passed out?

Cardiac arrest victims are unresponsive to any sound or movement. If the person is just passed out, most likely he or she will let out some type of moaning sound when you touch them and you will be able to see their chest rise. If they yell at you to get off them, then you know for a fact they're alive. Don't rely on checking the person's pulse to determine whether they're alive. When someone's in cardiac arrest, their pulse slows down so much that it becomes difficult to check or it stops completely. With your adrenaline pumping, most likely you are feeling your own pulse and not the victim's.

Where can I receive more hands-on training?

The American Heart Association offers Heartsaver® courses that provide in-depth CPR training. To find a chapter near you, call 1-800-AHA-USA-1 or visit www.heart.org.