Science-based Guidelines

The AHA develops science-based CPR guidelines and is the leader in first aid. All recommendations below are based on the AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC).

The Seven Fundamental Steps of CPR

1. Put the heel of your dominant hand at the center of the person’s chest with help of CPR. 

   Make sure the person is lying on a hard, flat surface, such as a floor. You cannot effectively perform CPR if a person is in bed or in a seated position.

2. Put your other hand over your dominant hand, then interlock your fingers.

   If you’re doing CPR on a child (someone one to eight years old), you can use one hand. For a baby (someone newborn to 12 months old), you use two fingers.

3. Start chest compressions. Lean directly over the person and keep your arms straight. Press down into their chest, then come up. It’s important to let the chest rise again fully. You should be trying to push down about two inches, or five centimeters. Aim to do around 100 compressions per minute, or to the beat of Staying Alive. Complete 30 chest compressions.

4. Open the person’s mouth.

   Once you’ve done 30 chest compressions, stop; tilt the persons head back and open their mouth at the chin. Cover their face with a pocket mask or barrier device.

5. Add a rescue breath.

   Breathe into the person’s mouth, enough for their chest to begin to rise. If you can’t see the chest starting to rise, reposition their head and try again.

6. Watch the chest fall, then do another rescue breath.

   Once the person’s chest is settled, you can re-adjust the head if needed, then complete another rescue breath.

7. Continue the 30 compressions, 2 breaths cycle.

   Do this until EMS arrives, the scene becomes unsafe, or if the person wakes up. If you can, switch out with another trained person, every two minutes.

The 6 links in the CPR  adult out-of-hospital Chain of Survival are:

• Recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system (calling 9-1-1 in the US)
• Early CPR with an emphasis on chest compressions
• Rapid defibrillation
• Advanced resuscitation by Emergency Medical Services and other healthcare providers
• Post-cardiac arrest care
• Recovery (including additional treatment, observation, rehabilitation, and psychological support)

While CPR can seem complex, it’s much simpler and straightforward than most would think. It all comes down to the seven fundamental CPR steps. If you want more information on first aid training, or would like to take a course, visit www.remotesol.com or download the Red Cross #BeReady or #FirstAid app